FOCAL POLYPOID ISCHEMIA OF THE COLON - ATHEROEMBOLI PRESENTING AS A COLONIC POLYP

Cholesterol emboli are known to imitate a variety of disease processes , thereby leading to delayed diagnosis. We describe a patient with a l ocalized polypoid mass of the colon without endoscopic evidence of gen eralized ischemic colitis. Histologic evaluation revealed this polyp t o be the result of localized ischemia with identifiable submucosal ath eroemboli. Localized polyp formation appears to be a rare manifestatio n of atheroemboli; consequently, focal ischemia, caused by atheroembol i, should be added to the differential diagnosis of polyps of the colo n.