Abstract

Background
/Aims: Our aims in this study were to determine histopathology and distri-bution of small colonic polyps (up to 6 mm). Small polyps were found frequently in the colon and rectum at colonoscopy. The size of polyps which should be removed endo-scopically has been controversial. Methods: Medical reports of all patients undergoing total colonoscopic examination during 8-year period were reviewed. Results: Eight hun-dred thirty-three small (up to 6 mm) colorectal polyps, removed during colonoscopy, have been analyzed. Of the small polyps, 58.8% were neoplastic, 17.7% were hyperplastic, 22.7% were inflammatory; 0.1% contained atypia, 0.1% were carcinoid, 0.6% were xan-thoma, 0.1% were adenocarcinoma. In the colon except rectum, neoplastic polyps were more common than non-neoplastic polyps. The difference in distribution of the major types of polyps in the right colon and transverse colon was significant (p ＜0.0001). Conclusions: Most small polyps proximal to the rectum are neoplastic. All polyps should be removed when encountered during colonoscopy due to the high prevalence of adenoma among small polyps. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 19: 46 ∼50, 1999)

• Keywords: Small colonic polyps, Histopathology, Spatial distribution