Increasing prevalence of advanced colonic polyps in young patients undergoing colonoscopy in a referral academic hospital in Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution and frequency of advanced polyps over eight years.


METHODS
6424 colonoscopies were reviewed during the study period 1998 to 2005. The study period was subdivided into period I: 1998 to 2001 and period II: 2002-2005.


RESULTS
1856 polyps (33% advanced polyps) and 328 CRCs were detected. The mean ages of the patients with advanced polyps and cancer were 69.2 +/- 12.0 and 71.6 +/- 13.8 years, respectively. Advanced polyps were mainly left sided (59.5%). Advanced polyps were found in patients <or= 60 years from 17.7% in period I to 26.3% in period II (P < 0.05), especially in male subjects <or= 60 years (21.6% vs 31.6%, P < 0.05). Advanced tubulovillous polyps rose from 21.5% in period I to 29.5% in period II (P < 0.05). Whereas cancers in male patients <or= 60 years were similar in both periods: 23.2% vs 16.5% (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Advanced polyps increased significantly in the younger male group in the most recent period and there seems to be a shift towards a proximal location.
Department of Gastroenterology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Tze-Jui
TJ
Lam
Benjamin C Y
BC
Wong
Chris J J
CJ
Mulder
A Salvador
AS
Peña
Wai Mo
WM
Hui
Shiu Kum
SK
Lam
Annie On On
AO
Chan
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies