Abstract

BACKGROUND
There are two theories in the development of colon cancer. One is the adenoma-carcinoma sequence theory and the other is the de novo cancer theory. Western countries believe in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence theory, however there are many recent reports from Japan about cancers developing from small adenomas. METHODS: The present study analyzed 408 polyps from 508 cases that were taken by colonoscopic polypectomy at the Departmant of Internal Medicine, Yeung-Nam University Hospital. RESULTS: The percentage of patients who have polyp was 41.3%(210cases out of 526cases) and the peak incidence was noted in patients in their 50's and 60's. There was no difference between the sexes, but we noted significant increase in the incidence of polyps in patients over age of thirty. We found 395 polyps below 1cm and 13 polyps above 1cm. Among 408 polyps, 5 cases cancerous polyps and 3 cases showed polyp size of less than 1cm each. The first case was a polyp of 0.4cm in size with elevated mucosa at the ascending colon. The second was 0.5cm in size with round elevation and hyperemic mucosa in the rectum. The third polyp was 0.6cm in size with tubular elevation at the hepatic flexure. CONCLUSIONS: colon polyp is common disease in Koreans. even small polyps can have cancer tissue, which should be removed if discovered during colonoscopy. We believe that not all colon cancer originates in the manner described by the adenoma-carcinoma sequence theory. However further studies with a larger sample population are needed to determine the exact role colon polyps plays in the development of colon cancer.

• Keywords: Small polyp;Colonoscopic polypectomy;