title: Safe endoscopic treatment of large colonic lipomas using endoscopic looping technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colonic lipomas are benign, submucosal tumours that are usually asymptomatic. Typically, they are incidentally diagnosed during colonoscopy. Due to a low prevalence, the natural history of lipomas remains largely unknown. While large (>2 cm) lesions can cause symptoms and complications, their endoscopic treatment is not routinely recommended because of prior reports of a high rate of perforation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a standardized technique of polypectomy, using endoscopic looping to resect large colonic lipomas in 8 patients and followed their clinical outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean lipoma size was 3.8+/-1.2 cm (range 2.5-6 cm). No patient developed bleeding or perforation. On follow-up (mean=13.5 months, range 2-29), there was one small residual lesion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colonic lipomas larger than 2 cm can be safely and efficaciously removed using endoloop assisted polypectomy technique.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaltenbach
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milkes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friedland
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soetikno
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D008067:Lipoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013536:Suture Techniques