title: Colonic polyposis in a 15 year-old boy: Challenges and lessons from a rural resource-poor area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal polyps usually present with rectal bleeding and are associated with increased risk of colorectal carcinoma. Evaluation and management in resource-poor areas present unique challenges.
  
  
  METHODS
  This 15 year-old boy presented with 9 years of painless rectal bleeding and 2 years of a prolapsing rectal mass after passing stool. He had 3 nephews with similar symptoms. On clinical assessment and initial exam under anesthesia, an impression of a polyposis syndrome was made and a biopsy taken from the mass that revealed inflammatory polyps with no dysplasia. He was identified during a pediatric surgical outreach to a rural area with no endoscopy, limited surgical services, and no genetic testing available, even at a tertiary center. He subsequently had a three-stage proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis with good outcome after referral to a tertiary care center. The surgical specimen showed many polyps scattered through the colon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the absence of endoscopic surveillance and diagnostic services including advanced pathology and genetic testing, colorectal polyposis syndromes are a significant challenge if encountered in these settings. Reports from similar settings have not included this surgical treatment, often opting for partial colectomy. Nonetheless, good outcomes can be achieved even given these constraints. The case also illustrates the complexity of untreated chronic pediatric surgical disease in rural resource-poor areas with limited health care access.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polyposis syndromes in children present unique challenges in rural resource-poor settings. Good outcomes can be achieved with total proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anastomosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences Makerere University, Uganda.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kakembo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences Makerere University, Uganda.
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kisa
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University, USA.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: Yale University, USA.
authors.forename: Doruk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ozgediz
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences Makerere University, Uganda.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sekabira
keywords: Global surgery; Pediatric surgery; Polyposis; Resource-limited settings; Rural surgery; Uganda