A COMMUNITY-HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE WITH COLONOSCOPIC POLYPECTOMIES

This study analyzed 432 consecutive polypectomies performed in 279 pat ients in the gastroenterology unit of a community hospital. The patien ts were separated into 2 groups; group I - symptomatic patients consid ered suitable for colonoscopic examination, and group II - asymptomati c high-risk patients. The mean number of detected polyps was similar i n both groups, the vast majority of the polyps in both groups were sma ll (<5mm), and were mainly of tubular histology. Polyps in the rectosi gmoid area were more common (56.6%) in the symptomatic patients than i n the asymptomatic patients (44.1%). Fourteen percent of patients in g roup I and 33% in group II had no polyps within 60 cm from the anal ve rge. Carcinoma in situ was found in large polyps mainly in group I. Fl at adenomas were not found in the studied population. The incidence of hyperplastic polyps was similar in both groups and did not predict th e concomitant existence of adenomatous polyps. The male:female ratio w as the same in bath groups. The percent of detected polyps increased w ith age. A strong right shift in the location of the polyps was eviden t with increasing age. Multiple polyps were a common event in this Isr aeli population of symptomatic and high-risk asymptomatic patients. Mo re than 30% of the polyps were found outside the reach of the sigmoido scope, with this proportion increasing with age. These data provide fu rther support to the claim that colonoscopy should therefore serve as the choice diagnostic tool in these high-risk populations.