Inflammatory fibroid polyps of the colon.

Inflammatory fibroid polyp is an uncommon lesion involving the stomach, the small bowel and occasionally the colon. Inflammatory fibroid polyp is a la rge polypoid lesion arising from the submucosa. It has no malignant potenti al although extensive infiltration may occur. The main histological charact eristics are diffuse inflammatory infiltrate with eosinophils and highly va scularized fibrocytic stroma. Immunohistochemistry is always positive for v imentine and negative for S 100 and desmin. We report four cases of inflamm atory fibroid polyps, 3 of which mimicked carcinoma of the colon. Explorato ry laparotomy and histopathological examination of the resected specimen we re necessary to confirm definitive diagnosis. In the last case, diagnosis w as established by histological examination of an endoscopically-removed col onic polyp.