Life-threatening gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to juvenile polyposis

A 14-yr-old, previously healthy boy presented with massive lower GI hemorrh age. After the routine endoscopic and radiological evaluation, laparotomy a nd intraoperative colonoscopy revealed multiple polyps in the colon. A hemi colectomy was performed because of the severity of hemorrhage. A diagnosis of juvenile polyposis was made based upon histological findings and the fam ily history. This is an extremely unusual presentation of juvenile polyposi s and has been reported only once before. The clinical features, diagnosis, and therapeutic options for juvenile polyposis are discussed. Juvenile pol yposis, although a rare condition in the pediatric population, should be co nsidered in the differential diagnosis of life-threatening GI hemorrhage. ( C) 2000 by Am. Cell. of Gastroenterology.