title: The association of multiple colonic adenomatous polyps with cancer of the colon.
abstract: We reviewed our colonoscopy data for the past 10 yr for patients with five or more polyps to determine the association of multiple adenomatous polyps and colon cancer. During that period, 3,834 patients underwent colonoscopy. Fifty-two patients with five or more polyps at the initial colonoscopy were found. In 25 patients (group I) there were at least five synchronous adenomas, and in 27 patients (group II) a combination of adenomas and hyperplastic polyps totaling five or more. The number of polyps ranged from five to 30 (median, six). There was no significant difference in the location of polyps between groups I and II. Eight of 52 patients (15%) were found to have colon cancer at the initial colonoscopy. In group I, there were six cancers (24%), five of which were in the cecum. Two of 27 patients (7%) in group II had cancer, one of which was located in the cecum. Patients with five or more adenomas at the index colonoscopy are at high risk of having colon cancer that is particularly prone to arise from the right side of the colon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Schuman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors