title: Extent of prevalence and size of flat neoplasms in a heterogeneous population undergoing routine colorectal cancer screening.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The importance of identifying flat colorectal neoplasms is increasingly appreciated, although the extent of prevalence of these lesions in a general population is not known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the extent of prevalence of flat neoplasms in a diverse population undergoing routine endoscopic screening for colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients referred to the Colorectal Cancer Screening Clinic over a 12-month period (n = 642).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient population was 56% African American and 21% Caucasian; with a mean age of 59 + or - 9 years. Flat neoplasms were detected in 5.5% of all patients, similar to that reported elsewhere, with extent of prevalence being similar regardless of gender or race. Average size of flat neoplasms was of 2.8 + or - 2.3 mm (range 1-20 mm). However, there was no evidence of advanced pathology in any of the flat neoplasms identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flat neoplasms are common but may not be associated with advanced pathology in a population undergoing routine screening.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rami
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Toole
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Llor
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Benya
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence