Non-association between acrochordons and colonic polyps in a minority population.
OBJECTIVE
To determine usefulness of skin tags as a predictor of colonic polyps, in patients of a minority population.


METHODS
Inner-city community hospital serving predominantly African Americans and Hispanics.


METHODS
Evaluation of 480 consecutive patients undergoing colonoscopy. The presence or absence of skin tags was noted, and their correlation with the colonic polyps determined.


RESULTS
Colonic polyps were detected in 92 patients (19%). None of these patients had skin tags, whereas skin tags were found in 87 patients (18%), and none of them had colonic polyps.


CONCLUSIONS
The mere presence of acrochordons (skin tags) should not be used as an indication for screening colonoscopy especially in African Americans and Hispanics.
Akhtar
Abbasi J
AJ
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA. abakhtar@cdrewu.edu
Zhuo
Jiaying
J
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States