Colorectal Polyps in Sharykia, Egypt: Clinico-Pathological Study of Our Experience with Endoscopy

Abstract

In the present study, manifestation, location, histopathological features and complications of endoscopic excision of different colorectal polyps were studied. Data were collected prospectively during colonoscopic examination performed on 592 subjects in Endoscopy Units, Zagazig University Hospitals, Sharkyia, Egypt. The study was performed from April 2003 till July 2007. Colorectal polyps were found in 112 patients (18.9%). Sixty patients (53.6%) were males and 52 patients (46.4%) were females. The age of the patients ranged from 3.5 to 68 years. Seventy one patients (63.4%) were children and adolescents. Bleeding per rectum presented in 84 patients (75%), hypochromic microcytic anaemia in 5 patients (4.5%) and bowel disturbances in 20 patients (17.8%). Screening colonoscopy was performed on 3 patients (2.7%). Polyps were located in the proximal colon in 23 patients (20.5%), distal colon in 83 patients (74.1%) and diffuse involvement in 6 patients (5.35%). One patient (0.89%) had bleeding after polypectomy necessitating admission and blood transfusion. Fifty three patients (48.2%) had juvenile polyps, 22 (20%) had adenomatous polyps, 20 (18.2%) had inflammatory polyps, 5 (4.5%) had bilharzial polyps, 4 (3.6%) had pseudopolyps of ulcerative colitis, 3 (2.7%) had familial polyposis coli, one (0.9%) had malignancy inside adenomatous polyp, one (0.9%) was associated with rectal prolapse and one (0.9%) was associated with sutures of previous operation of rectal prolapse. Histopathological specimens were not available in 2 patients. We concluded that juvenile polyps were the most frequent polyps in our study. Also the low number of bilharzial polyps points to the decreasing prevalence of bilharziasis in Egypt nowadays. As well as Polyps are located mainly in the distal colon and endoscopic polypectomy had few complications.