title: [The incidence and clinical characteristics of proximal colonic polyps when the polyps are noted on rectosigmoid colon by colonoscopy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer and second leading cause of cancer death overall. Recently, there has been an emphasis on primary screening for colorectal cancer with colonoscopy. In this study, we aimed to address clinical characteristics and incidence of colonic polyps according to location.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2009 to December 2010, 6,417 total colonoscopic examinations were performed at Boramae Hospital in Seoul, Korea. We reviewed these patients retrospectively. The distal colon was defined as the rectosigmoid junction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1,972 patients (31.3%) had one of more colorectal polyps. Total of 4,445 patients were excluded from this study because of combined advanced colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or familial adenomatous polyposis. Patients who had only proximal polyps were 633 (32.1%), 530 patients (26.9%) had both proximal and distal polyps, and 809 patients (41.0%) had polyps only in the rectosigmoid region. The prevalence of the proximal polyps in patients with rectosigmoid polyps was found to be significantly related to the male gender and elderly patients. However, the prevalence of the proximal colonic polyps was not related to the size and number of rectosigmoid polyps. In 530 patients with both rectosigmoid and proximal colonic polyps, the characteristics of proximal colonic polyps as size and number were similar to those of rectosigmoid polyps. Advanced proximal adenomas without distal polyps were found in 25 (29.4%) patients whom were associated with size and pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend total colonoscopic examination in all patients regardless of the size and number, especially in elderly males.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sae Kyung
authors: SK
authors: Joo
authors: Ji Won
authors: JW
authors: Kim
authors: Kook Lae
authors: KL
authors: Lee
authors: Byeong Gwan
authors: BG
authors: Kim
authors: Ji Bong
authors: JB
authors: Jeong
authors: Jae Kyung
authors: JK
authors: Lee
authors: Seong Joon
authors: SJ
authors: Koh
authors: Young Hoon
authors: YH
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D018253:Adenoma, Villous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000473:pathology*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors