MANAGEMENT OF THE MALIGNANT COLORECTAL POLYP - THE IMPORTANCE OF CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION

The results of management of colorectal adenomas removed endoscopicall y and found to contain invasive cancer seen in a single institution ov er a 10 year period are presented. Clinical data were obtained retrosp ectively from patient case notes and all specimens were reviewed by on e pathologist. Fifty-four patients with malignant polyps were studied after exclusion of others with polypoid carcinomas, epithelial misplac ement and cases managed by primary segmental resection. Of the various considered predictors of adverse outcome, only histologically incompl ete excision proved significant. However, when excision was considered macroscopically complete there was no significant association between incomplete histological excision and adverse outcome. Consideration s hould be given to conservative management of such cases.