PITFALLS IN POLYPECTOMY - FROM GENE TO CURE

Unsuspected problems are commonly encountered during colonoscopic poly pectomy. This paper identifies the most frequent difficulties and desc ribes solutions to them. One of the most important pitfalls is overloo king a lesion or tumour in the colon; this can only be solved by bette r training, experience and care, although it may happen in the best of hands with the most knowledgeable colonoscopist. Other pitfalls addre ssed include the stuck snare, use of a gastroscope for the difficult s igmoid polyp, and methods to aid discovery and retrieval of the polype ctomy specimen.