title: Atypical hyperplastic polyps at double-contrast barium enema examination.
abstract: At radiography, hyperplastic polyps classically appear as smooth, sessile elevations less than 5 mm in diameter. However, a retrospective review of double-contrast barium enema studies in 22 patients with 31 pathologically proved hyperplastic polyps revealed an average polyp size of 7.3 mm, with a range of 3-21 mm. Fifteen polyps (48%) were 2-5 mm, 12 (39%) were 6-10 mm, and four (13%) were greater than 10 mm in diameter. Twenty-nine polyps (94%) were sessile, and two polyps (6%) were pedunculated. Twenty-three polyps (74%) had a smooth contour, and eight polyps (26%) were lobulated. Twenty-six of the hyperplastic polyps (84%) were located in the rectosigmoid colon. If the radiologic criteria for an atypical hyperplastic polyp at double-contrast barium enema examination include size greater than 5 mm, lobulation, and/or pedunculation, 16 of the 31 hyperplastic polyps (52%) could be classified as atypical. Thus, radiologists should be aware that many hyperplastic polyps seen at double-contrast barium enema examination do not fit the classic description of a smooth, sessile elevation less than 5 mm in size but instead appear as larger, more lobulated lesions that are indistinguishable from adenomatous polyps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bronner
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Rubesin
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Saul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate