Purpose: This study was attempted in order to understand the realities of colon polyps observed by colonoscopy, Clinical test results were evaluated the need of examination of asymptomatic adults, and the causes of colon polyps were analyzed related various habits. The guidelines were suggested for prevention of colon cancer.
Method: The 1,520 patients who received colonoscopy from June of 2005 to November of 2005 at tertiary Hospital in Seoul, Korea. 762 patients whose results were determined to be appropriate for the study were selected.
Statistics: Medical documents that were written during the time of the physical examination and nutrition records as well as clinical test results were used, and all data were processed using the SPSS/Windows 11.5 Statistics package program. The results of the study are as follows.
Results:
1. Colon polyps were found in 409(53.67%) asymptomaticindividuals who received the colonoscopy, and male individuals showed a higher frequency at 57.4% than female individuals.
2. Distribution of colon polyp according to age was 67.3% for individuals in their 60’s, 56.8% for 50’s, and 48.9% for 40’s, displaying the highest distribution in the 60’s which also showed an increase in frequency with increase in age.
3. Anatomical sites of colon polyps were in the order of Ascending colon (21.6%), Sigmoid colon (18.9%), Transverse colon (17.1%), Descending colon (14.0%), rectum (11.9%), and Caecum (8.6%), which shows movement from left of the large intestine to the right of the intestine.
4. 50.4% of individuals had a single colon polyp and 71.5% of the polyps were approximately 0.5cm.
5. As histological findings of colon polyps, adenoma was most frequent at 59.3%, and in the distribution of adenoma, tubular adenoma was found in 99.6% of cases.
6. Histological finding of malignant changes showed 4 cases of HGD, 1 case of Carcinoid tumor, and 1 case of Cancer change, but with the exception of Carcinoid tumor, malignant change was found to coexist with tubular adenoma in all cases.
7. In risk factors, individuals who smoke, have diabetes, Hyperlipidemia, and past history of colon polyp are at increased risk for occurrence of colon polyps.
Conclusion: Early detection of colon polyps is important for prevention of colon cancer. Colonoscopy for asymptomatic male individuals over the age of 40 is highly recommended; and at the time of colonoscopy, even small polyps should be verified through a biopsy and should be properly removed if found to be an adenoma. Even an individual has the high risk factors of colon cancer, incidence will be decreased through changing lifestyle, checking regular colonoscopies, and treatment of strict colon polyps.