Abstract

Pathologists play an important role in proper evaluation of endoscopically removed polyps of the gastrointestinal tract. This study is purposed to reclassify the polyps and review the clinicopathologic features of each histologic subtypes and their malignant potential. Our material consists of total 345 gastrointestinal polyps obtained from Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1987. The results are as follows: 1) A total of 345 gastrointestinal polyps was removed from stomach is 151 cases, from colon in 180 cases, and from small intestine in 14 cases. 2) Hyperplastic polyps were the most common type of polyps I stomach (53.6%) whereas neoplastic polyps were the most common in colon (56.1%). 3) Hyperplastic polyps of the stomach occur in any age after the 3rd decade of life and neoplastic polyps predominantly developed between the 5th and 8th decades. Juvenile retention polyps were frequently noted before the 3rd decade of age. 4) Approximately 267 cases (77.4%) of patients had a single polyp and the remainders had multiple polyps. The gastric polyps were usually located at the antrum and the colonic polyps were at the sigmoid colon and rectum. 5) Epithelial atypia was exclusively noted in the neoplastic polyps of stomach (72.7%) and colon (72.3%). Malignancy in the polyp was observed in the neoplastic polyps only (13 cases). 6) Different types of polyp may occur in the same organ.

• Keywords: Gastrointestinal polyp;epithelial atypia;malignant potential;