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Objective: To study the association between Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) endocarditis and advanced colorectal neoplasia., Methods: This was a case-control study of patients with S. bovis endocarditis undergoing colonoscopic evaluation. Patients were matched 1:20 with controls by gender and age (±2 years) from a large screening colonoscopy database. The baseline, colonoscopic and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with S. bovis endocarditis were analyzed., Results: From 1996 to 2010, 18 adult patients with S. bovis bacteremia were identified, of whom 10 with infective endocarditis (IE) underwent colonoscopic evaluation. Endocarditis involved a native or prosthetic valve in six and four of those patients, respectively. All 10 patients recovered without recurrence of IE (mean follow-up duration 49.6 months). None had a concurrent or preceding history of colon disease and only one had subclinical chronic liver disease. Advanced neoplasia, defined as the presence of polyps ≥1 cm (n = 6), villous histology (n = 3), high-grade focal dysplasia (n = 1) or cancer (n = 1), was found under colonoscopy in 6 of the 10 cases (60.0%) compared with 13/200 (6.5%) matched controls (OR 21.6, 95% CI 5.4-86.1, P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: S. bovis endocarditis is strongly associated with the presence of advanced colorectal neoplasia. In the absence of any contraindication, colonoscopic examination is strongly recommended in patients with endocarditis. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this association and the predilection for S. bovis bacteremia in patients with advanced colonic neoplasia remain unclear., (© 2013 The Authors. Journal of Digestive Diseases © 2013 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd and Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.)

Background: Transanal endoscopic microsurgical (TEM) resection is associated with improved outcomes compared to transanal excision of rectal lesions. However, TEM equipment requires additional operative setup time, and tumor location dictates patient positioning. In 2010, Drs. Attallah, Albert, and Larach developed an alternative technique, transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS). Herein, we describe our novel experience using endoscopic visualization to perform TAMIS (eTAMIS) to remove a large rectal polyp., Methods: This is a technical note describing a new surgical technique, eTAMIS. The technique is performed with the Gelpoint Path TAMIS platform (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) and a standard single-channel endoscope for visualization. Patient demographics, operative data, and pathologic data were recorded., Results: eTAMIS was initially performed in a 50-year-old woman with an endoscopically defiant rectal mass discovered on routine screening colonoscopy. The lesion was a tubulovillous adenoma, 10 cm from the anal verge, anterior, and occupied 15-20 % of the circumference. The rectal mass was removed by eTAMIS. The operative time was 101 minutes, and the patient was discharged within 24 h without event. Final pathology revealed a focus of well-differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma with focal invasion into the muscularis mucosa (Haggit level 0, pTis) arising in the head of a pedunculated tubulovillous adenoma. At 1-year follow-up endoscopy, the patient had no evidence of recurrent mass or polyp., Conclusions: This is the first technical report describing endoscopic visualization for TAMIS. Endoscopic visualization facilitates intraluminal articulation and lens cleaning while minimizing extraluminal instrument collisions. eTAMIS is a practical and logical evolution of the visual approach to natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery and laparoendoscopic surgery.

Introduction: Surgical treatment is still necessary for intussusception management in a subgroup of patients, despite advances in enema reduction techniques. Early identification of these patients should improve outcomes., Methods: The medical records of patients treated for intussusception at our institution from 2006 to 2011 were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses, including stepwise logistic regression, were performed., Results: Overall, 379 patients were treated for intussusception, and 101 (26%) patients required operative management, with 34 undergoing intestinal resection. The post-operative complication rate was 8%. On multivariate analysis, failure of initial reduction (OR 9.9,p=0.001 95% CI, 4.6-21.2), a lead point (OR 18.5,p=0.001 95% CI, 6.6-51.8) or free/interloop fluid (OR 3.3,p=0.001 95% CI, 1.6-6.7) or bowel wall thickening on ultrasound (OR 3.3,p=0.001 95% CI, 1.1-10.1), age <1 year at reduction (OR 2.7,p=0.004, 95% CI, 1.4-5.9), and abdominal symptoms>2 days (OR 2.9,p=0.003, 95% CI, 1.4-5.9) were significantly associated with a requirement for surgery. Similarly, a lead point (OR 14.5, p=0.005 95% CI, 2.3-90.9) or free/interloop fluid on ultrasound (OR 19.8, p=0.001 95% CI, 3.4-117) and fever (OR 7.2, p=0.023 95% CI, 1.1-46) were significantly associated with the need for intestinal resection., Conclusion: Abdominal symptoms>2 days, age<1 year, multiple ultrasound findings, and failure of initial enema reduction are significant predictors of operative treatment for intussusception. Patients with these findings should be considered for early surgical consultation or transfer to a hospital with pediatric surgical capabilities., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Inflammatory fibroid polyps are non-frequent benign lesions, described by Vanek in 1949, originated in the sub mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. They have an uncertain origin and they are formed of fibroblastic and mesenchymal proliferations with an important eosinophilic proportion. Depending on where are they localized, could present different type of symptoms. The inflammatory fibroid polyps are one of the rare benign conditions causing intestinal intussusception in adults. We present the case of a 82 years old woman, who presented an intestinal intussusception due to an inflammatory fibroid polyp localized in the small bowel.

Aim: To give an overview of the literature on intussusception due to inflammatory fibroid polyp (IFP)., Methods: We present a new case of ileal intussusception due to IFP and a literature review of studies published in English language on intussusception due to IFP, accessed via PubMed and Google Scholar databases. For the search, the keywords used were: intussusception, IFP, intussusception and IFP, intussusception due to IFP, and IFP presenting as intussusception. The search covered all articles from 1976 to November 2011., Results: We present a 38-year-old woman who was admitted 10 d after experiencing abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea. Ultrasonography demonstrated small bowel intussusception. An ileal intussusception due to a mass lesion 50 cm proximal to the ileocecal junction was found during laparotomy. Partial ileal resection and anastomosis were performed. A diagnosis of ileal IFP was made based on the immunohistochemical findings. In addition, a total of 56 reports concerning 85 cases of intussusception due to IFP meeting the aforementioned criteria was included in the literature review. The patients were aged 4 to 81 years (mean, 49 ± 16.2 years); 44 were women (mean, 51.8 ± 14.3 years) and 41 were men (mean, 46 ± 17.5 years). According to the location of the IFP, ileal intussusception was found in 63 patients, while 17 had jejunal, three had colonic, and two had ileojejunal intussusception., Conclusion: Although IFPs are rare and benign, surgery is the only solution in case of intestinal obstruction. Differential diagnosis should be made via immunohistochemical examination.

Background: Capsule endoscopy is recommended for children with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome as young as 8 years of age. Aim of our study was to evaluate the contribution of capsule endoscopy in managing risk of further obstructive complications., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 27 children who received at least 1 capsule endoscopy was conducted. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome was diagnosed based on the presence of an STK11 gene mutation or on the association of a hamartoma with 2 of 3 criteria (family history, mucocutaneous pigmentation, small bowel polyposis)., Results: Thirty-seven capsule endoscopies were performed in 27 patients. The median age at first endoscopy was 11.4 years (range, 5.4-20.9). Jejunal polyps were found in 72% and ileal polyps in 55% of capsules. The original recommendations were followed 20/30 times. Three gastroscopies, 4 colonoscopies, 7 double balloon enteroscopies and 1 intra-operative enteroscopy were performed after the capsules. These procedures revealed jejunal polyps in 9/9 cases (8/9 resected) and ileal polyps in 3/5 (all resected). One intussusception occurred 8.4 months after the capsule endoscopy and required surgical resection., Conclusion: Capsule endoscopy is easily feasible in Peutz Jeghers syndrome, but the practice of systematic and repeated procedures needs to be validated prospectively., (Copyright © 2012 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We report a rare case of a small-bowel lymphangioma causing massive gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding that we successfully diagnosed and treated using double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE). An 81-year-old woman suffering from repeated GI bleeding of unknown origin underwent a capsule endoscopy at a previous hospital. She was suspected of having bleeding from the jejunum, and was referred to our department for diagnosis and treatment. An oral DBE revealed a 20 mm × 10 mm, regularly surfaced, white to yellowish, elongated, pedunculated jejunal polyp with small erosions at 10 cm distal to the ligament of Treiz. Since no other source of bleeding was identified by endoscopy in the deep jejunum, an endoscopic polypectomy (EP) was performed for this lesion. A subsequent histopathological examination of the resected polyp showed clusters of lymphatic vessels with marked cystic dilatation in the submucosa and the deep layer of the lamina propria mucosae. These characteristics are consistent with the typical features of small-bowel lymphangioma with erosions. Although clipping hemostasis was performed during EP, re-bleeding occurred. Finally, a complete hemostasis was achieved by performing an additional argon plasma coagulation.

Background: Inflammatory fibroid polyps (IFPs) are rare benign lesions of uncertain origin that may occur in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract that originate from the sub mucosa located in different sites of the digestive tract. They are commonly located in the stomach and small bowel. It is one of the probable diagnoses that should be considered in obstructive tumors of the small intestine causing invagination., Methods: A case of IFP is presented, causing intestinal invagination in an 39-year-old female patient, admitted with abdominal distension and pain., Result: Computerised tomography imaging (CT) demonstrated intussusception of the small bowel. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a bowel intussusception. An ileo-ileal anastomosis was performed after resection of the tumoral segment. Histology of the resected small bowel revealed an inflammatory fibroid polyp., Conclusions: intussusception secondary to IFPs of the small intestine are difficult to diagnose without recognition of its clinical and pathological characteristics. CT is useful in confirming an anatomical abnormality, histological examination establishes the final diagnosis of IFPs.

Duodenal tumors are very rare tumors, with the lower incidence among the tumors of the small bowel, whose frequence is less than 5 % of all digestive tumors. In most of the cases these tumors remain asymptomatic, sometimes the entire life. When they become symptomatic, their first manifestation is the loss of digested blood (melena), secondary anemia and obstructive symptomatology. Early diagnosis of these tumors is difficult because of the unsystematic symptomatology and becomes easy when the complications appear. In most of the cases the diagnosis is establish by the superior digestive endoscopy, followed by barium contrast studies, CT and ultrasound. We present a case of duodenal hamartomatous polip, unique, at the level of D3, in a female patient 66 years old, addressing to our service for superior digestive hemorrhage exteriorizated by melena, secondary anemia and physical asthenia; we operated the patient procedeeing a polypectomy by a duodenotomy.

Background: Brunner's gland adenoma (BGA) is an unusual benign neoplasm arising from Brunner's glands in the duodenum. When symptomatic it presents either with duodenal obstruction or bleeding. However, pancreatitis secondary to ampullary obstruction from a BGA is very rare., Methods: A 23-year-old female presented with recurrent episodes of "idiopathic" pancreatitis. She was extensively investigated and was found to have a large polypoid BGA, intermittently obstructing the ampulla. This created a ball-valve effect causing secondary intermittent obstruction of the pancreatic duct resulting in pancreatitis. The condition was cured surgically, through transduodenal excision of the BGA. We reviewed the surgical literature pertaining to these unusual and similar causes of obstructive pancreatitis, not related to gallstones., Results: BGA of the duodenum is a rare cause of pancreatitis. Extensive investigations should be carried out in all cases of unexplained pancreatitis before classifying the condition as "idiopathic". Discovery of a lesion of this nature gives an opportunity to provide a permanent surgical cure., Conclusions: BGA adds an unusual etiology for pancreatitis. All patients with pancreatitis should undergo extensive investigations before being termed "idiopathic". Surgical excision of the BGA provides a definitive curative treatment for the adenoma and pancreatitis.

Sporadic juvenile polyp of the jejunum is exceedingly rare, reported only once in the English literature. We describe a 3-year-old girl with a long-lasting history of chronic iron deficiency anemia and a delayed diagnosis of jejunal polyp. The lesion was eventually discovered by ultrasonography and successfully resected using a laparoscopic-assisted transumbilical approach., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients are at increased risk of colorectal dysplasia and cancer. Few studies have examined the clinical outcomes of dysplastic polyps resembling sporadic adenomas that are removed with endoscopic polypectomy., Methods: A centralized diagnostic index identified patients evaluated between 1994 and 2004 with UC and polypoid dysplasia who were followed from the time of polypectomy until the most recent colonoscopy. They were stratified into two groups by polyp occurrence, either within (adenoma-like dysplasia) or outside (sporadic adenoma) the most proximal endoscopic or histologic extent of colitis. The endpoints of interest were the development of subsequent colorectal neoplasia, flat dysplasia, or cancer. The cumulative probabilities of these endpoints were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the association with clinical factors assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression., Results: Ninety-five patients were found to have polypoid dysplasia; of these, 77 underwent polypectomy. The cumulative probability of subsequent colorectal neoplasia in polypectomy patients was 18% at 1 year and 69% at 5 years. After polypectomy, cumulative incidence of cancer or flat dysplasia was 2% at 1 year and 13% at 5 years. The proportional hazards models indicated that these outcomes were not significantly associated with polyp type, primary sclerosing cholangitis, family history of colorectal cancer, 5-aminosalicylate use, extent of colitis, or duration of disease., Conclusions: While polypectomy may be safe for the management of adenomas occurring in most UC patients, the 5-year cumulative incidence of a combined endpoint (cancer or flat dysplasia) was 13%. Such patients should be followed closely., (Copyright © 2011 Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, Inc.)

Inflammatory fibroid polyp is a benign and non-neoplastic condition of the intestinal tract, commonly affecting the gastric antrum, though it can affect any part of the gastro-intestinal tract. It is a submucosal, sessile, poypoid mass composed of myofibroblast like mesenchymal cells, numerous small blood vessels and marked inflammatory cell infiltrate mainly eosinophils. It commonly presents as intestinal obstruction or intussusception. A case of recurrent partial small intestinal obstruction due to intermittent intussusception associated with inflammatory fibroid polyp of jejunum is being reported.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy can diagnose majority of pathologies in patients with rectal bleeding and is less demanding than colonoscopy. Frequency of different findings in patients with rectal bleeding on flexible sigmoidoscopy was considered. Out of a total of 215 patients, 133 (61.9%) were males and 82 (38.1%) were females. The most common findings were hemorrhoids in 49 patients (22.8%) and polyps in 37 (17.2%) patients. The mean duration of bleeding was 57.4 + 51.8 months. Seventeen (7.1%) were found to have malignancy on sigmoidoscopic biopsy. Flexible sigmoidoscopy was able to determine the cause of bleeding in majority of patients with rectal bleeding.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was developed for en bloc resection of superficial neoplasm of the digestive tract. We evaluated feasibility and safety of ESD, as a salvage therapy of large refractory rectal polyps, in a tertiary care setting., Methods: We prospectively enrolled in the present study and treated by ESD 11 consecutive patients with rectal polyps (median diameter 3.5 cm; range 2-5 cm), who had previously undergone several attempts of endoscopic resection and not suitable for further standard endoscopic treatment. The ESD was carried out with a standard needle knife. Follow up examinations were scheduled at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months., Results: We achieved apparently complete resection of polyps in 10/11 patients. In one patient ESD was interrupted and the pathology of the resected fragment showed deep submucosal infiltration; this patient underwent surgery. Deep and lateral margins were shown to be free of neoplasm (radical resection) in six out of 11 patients. However all the 10 patients with apparently complete resection were free of recurrence after a mean follow up of 19.2 months (12-24). A T1 adenocarcinoma was radically resected by ESD, with no recurrence. We recorded 2 cases of subcutaneous emphysema, both treated conservatively., Conclusions: Radical resection is difficult to be achieved by ESD in patients with rectal scar-embedded polyps. Nevertheless ESD may be proposed as a definitive treatment of selected patients with refractory polyps, avoiding surgery in the majority of them., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The article is devoted to a problem of diagnosis and treatment of postcholecystectomy syndrome caused by benign neoformations of the major duodenal papilla. The material of study was formed by 76 patients; among them 53 ones had isolated benign neoformations of the major duodenal papilla. The medical-diagnostic algorithm applied by authors for the examination of patients with postcholecystectomy syndrome is presented. It's been defined, that benign neoformations of the major duodenal papilla take an essential place in the structure of postcholecystectomy syndrome and make 13.5% of the reasons of its occurrence. Thus, the most widespread morphological substratum of these benign neoformations is the hyperplastic polyp.

Background: The major problem in the management of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is small-bowel polyps, which can cause intussusception and bleeding. Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) enables endoscopic resection of small-bowel polyps., Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of endoscopic management of small-bowel polyps in PJS patients by using DBE., Design: Retrospective chart review., Setting: Single university hospital., Patients: Consecutive patients with PJS who underwent multiple sessions of DBE for evaluation or treatment of small-bowel polyps between September 2000 and April 2009., Interventions: Endoscopic resection of small-bowel polyps in PJS patients was performed by using DBE., Main Outcome Measurements: Efficacy, safety, and long-term laparotomy rate after the procedures were evaluated., Results: Fifteen patients (10 men, mean age 34.0 ± 15.8 years) underwent DBE for a mean 3.0 ± 1.0 sessions. The mean numbers of resected polyps larger than 20 mm significantly decreased as sessions advanced (first, 3.6; second, 1.3; third, 0.7; fourth, 0.4; and fifth, 1.0; P = .02). The mean maximum sizes of resected polyps also significantly decreased at each session: 33, 19, 12, 17, and 30 mm (P = .01). One patient had a perforation, but was managed conservatively. Other complications were pancreatitis (n = 2) and bleeding (n = 2). Only 1 patient underwent surgery for intussusception during the study period., Limitations: This was a small single-center retrospective study of short duration., Conclusions: Endoscopic management of small-bowel polyps in PJS patients by using DBE is safe and effective and avoids urgent laparotomy., (Copyright © 2011 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intussusception in an adult must make us suspect the presence of a tumor (benign or potentially dangerous) as the most frequent cause. Accurate diagnosis is of great importance in order to provide appropriate treatment and improve patient prognosis., Clinical Case: We report the case of a 42-year-old male with abdominal pain. We performed a CT and found a small bowel intussusception. Definitive diagnosis according to the surgical specimen was inflammatory fibroid polyp (Vanek's polyp)., Conclusions: Vanek's polyp is a benign lesion that occurs most frequently in the stomach and secondarily in the small bowel. Generally, it is uncommon, and its etiology is not completely known. Accurate diagnosis is done with immunohistochemistry. Because of the consequences that depend on the size and location of the lesion, it may be considered a malignant lesion. Treatment is resection.

Background: Intussuception is an uncommon condition in adults. It is usually secondary to an organic lesion that may be malignant. The most common clinical presentation is as a partial bowel obstruction that requires surgical management. Preoperative diagnosis remains difficult; therefore, this paper presents a case report and a brief review of adult intussusception., Clinical Case: We present the case of a 24-year-old female with a 36-h evolution of lower abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and a previous episode 8 days earlier. Pneumoperitoneum was observed on chest x-ray and surgery was decided upon. Peritonitis due to ileoileal intussusception was found, caused by an inflammatory fibroid polyp with microperforations. Small bowel resection with end-to-end anastomosis was performed and the patient had an uneventful recovery., Conclusions: Adult intussusception is an infrequent condition with nonspecific symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting. With more frequent use of tomography in patients with abdominal pain, correct diagnosis can be achieved. Treatment requires resection of the involved bowel without attempted reduction.

Objectives: Colorectal polyps are important causes of rectal bleeding but they have been infrequently reported in Egyptian children. The prevalence and characteristics of colorectal polyps in a consecutive cohort of Egyptian children with rectal bleeding are presented., Methods: A total of 174 children aged 2-12 years [mean (SD) 6.4 (3.7)] with fresh rectal bleeding were enrolled prospectively. Rectal examination, laboratory investigations and fibre-optic colonoscopy were performed in all patients., Results: The source of bleeding was diagnosed as colorectal polyps in 100 patients (57.4%) and was owing to other causes in 74. The interval between onset of symptoms and presentation ranged from 2 to 48 months [mean (SD) 18.3 (16)]. In patients with other causes, rectal bleeding was attributed to intestinal amoebiasis (42), diarrhoea/dysentery (18), severe constipation (2) and intestinal schistosomiasis (2). Polyps were solitary in 56 children (56%) and ranged from 2 to 5 in 34 (34%) and >5 in 10 (10%). Polyps were confined to the rectum in 68 children, were rectosigmoid in 20, in the descending colon in 8, and splenic flexure in 4. Polyps were juvenile in 84 children (84%), inflammatory in 10 (10%) and hyperplastic, schistosomal or adenomatous in 2 each (6%). Colonoscopic polypectomy was successful and arrested the bleeding in all cases., Conclusion: In Egyptian children, colorectal polyps are relatively common and an easily treatable cause of fresh rectal bleeding. They should be high on the list of differential diagnoses.

We report the case of a 3-year-old boy who presented at 9 months of age with abdominal distension and was found to have a triad of bilateral cystic nephroma, pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) and juvenile intestinal polyps. There have been three previous reported cases of patients with the same associated diagnoses. Our patient is the first reported patient with PPB who received renal replacement therapy and progressed to successful renal transplantation. The potential increased risk of progression of malignancy of PPB (type 1) with immunosuppression following transplantation remains unknown.

Background: In around 30% of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) cases a definite diagnosis cannot be made., Aim: To investigate the role of capsule endoscopy (CE) in detecting lesions in patients with unexplained IDA after a negative endoscopic, serologic and haematologic diagnostic work up and its possible role in influencing clinical outcome., Methods: 138 patients suffering from IDA were identified among 650 consecutive patients undergoing CE at our unit., Results: CE revealed the following positive findings in 91/138 patients: angiodysplasias in 51 patients; jejunal and/or ileal micro-ulcerations in 12; tumours/polyps in 9; erosive gastritis in 4; Crohn's disease in 5; jejunal villous atrophy in 5; a solitary ileal ulcer in 1 and active bleeding in the last 4 patients. Follow up data were available for 80/91 patients (87.9%). In 15 out of 46 patients with angiodysplasias IDA spontaneously resolved without any treatment; 9 patients required iron supplementation; 10 patients healed after lanreotide administration; APC was performed in 9 out of 46 patients and 3 patients underwent regular blood transfusion without any success on IDA. 10 out of the 12 patients with small bowel micro-ulcers spontaneously recovered from IDA whilst 2 patients after iron supplementation. All 9 patients affected by tumours/polyps were surgically addressed. In all erosive gastritis cases, patients recovered from IDA after PPI and Helicobacter pylori eradication. Four patients with Crohn's disease diagnosis restored to health with medical therapy. One out of the 4 patients with jejunal villous atrophy and the sole patient with a solitary ileal ulcer spontaneously healed. In 1 out of 3 patients with active bleeding IDA resolved without further treatment after blood transfusion whilst 2 patients were referred for surgical treatment. At follow up, complete resolution of IDA was achieved in 96.25%., Conclusions: Small bowel investigation is a matter of great importance in IDA patients after negative upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy., (Copyright 2010 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Gastrointestinal polyps are common in children. The purpose of this study was to review the clinical manifestations, diagnostic procedures, endoscopic findings, management, pathology, and recurrence of gastrointestinal polyps in children at Mackay Memorial Hospital., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 50 children with a diagnosis of gastrointestinal polyps managed at Mackay Memorial Hospital between January 1984 and April 2007. Demographic data; clinical features; polyp size, number and location; endoscopic findings; management; pathology; and information on recurrences were extracted from the clinical records., Results: The distribution of polyps in the 50 patients included gastric (4 patients), duodenal (2), ileocecal (4) and colorectal polyps (40). All patients with gastric polyps presented with vomiting, and three of the four patients with ileocecal polyps presented with intussusception. The mean age of the 40 patients with colorectal polyps was 6.8 years. The majority of those polyps were in the rectosigmoid colon; 36 patients presented with hematochezia. Solitary polyps were identified in 33 patients and multiple polyps were identified in seven patients. Most of the colorectal polyps were less than 2cm in diameter. Histologically, the most frequent type was juvenile polyp., Conclusion: Gastrointestinal polyps in children are usually benign. Pediatricians treating a child with a gastrointestinal polyp should pay attention to the immediate complications of the polyps, such as intussusception or bleeding, the extraintestinal manifestations and long-term risk for malignancy.

Background: Juvenile polyps have a reported incidence of up to 2% in individuals younger than of 18 years. Most polyps are small, occur in the distal colon and rectum, and present with bleeding or prolapse. Giant juvenile polyps have been rarely reported., Case Reports: We encountered 2 unique presentations of very large juvenile polyps in children. A 9-year-old boy presented with recurrent rectal bleeding and anemia because of a single large polyp at the hepatic flexure. A 14-year-old boy presented with abdominal pain secondary to 2 large polyps in the cecum. The polyps were seen on colonoscopy as pedunculated masses larger than 5 cm and were not subjected to biopsy. Both patients underwent laparoscopic colon mobilizations with extracorporeal segmental resection in the first patient and colotomy and polypectomy in the second. Both patients had short hospital stays and excellent outcomes., Conclusions: Giant juvenile polyps are rare in children and may not be amenable to colonoscopic removal. They can be resected effectively with minimal access surgical techniques.

Fibroepithelial polyps or hypertrophied anal papillae are essentially skin tags that project up from the dentate line and the junction between the skin and the epithelial lining of the anus. They are usually small in size, but sometimes they become enlarged, causing unexpected medical conditions. An extremely rare case of a giant hypertrophied anal papilla complicated by obstructive ileus is reported. Fibroepithelial anal polyp, despite its size, should be included in the differential diagnosis of a smooth mass located near the anal verge, especially in a patient with a history of chronic anal irritation or infection.

Background and Study Aims: Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) are at increased risk for duodenal cancer whereas colorectal cancer is largely prevented by prophylactic colectomy. We analyzed the results of endoscopic surveillance and different treatment modalities of duodenal adenomatosis in patients with FAP., Patients and Methods: Data on endoscopies, histopathological examinations, and surgical therapies were collected from the medical histories of 129 patients with FAP. The cumulative incidences of duodenal adenomatosis and severe dysplasia and cancer were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis., Results: By the age of 60 years, the cumulative incidence was 80% for any adenomatosis and 23% for severe dysplasia or cancer. Duodenal cancer was observed in six patients (4.7%). Fifteen endoscopic excisions in 14 patients, and 19 open duodenotomies in 17 patients were carried out. Later, pancreaticoduodenectomy was undertaken in six (35.3%) of these 17 patients. Altogether, 12 patients (9.3%) underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Except for one patient, the indication for surgery was based on follow-up endoscopies, and none of these patients died of duodenal cancer. No postoperative deaths occurred. Seven patients (58.3%) had major complications, four (33.3%) of which were surgical., Conclusions: The high incidence of severe dysplasia and cancer in duodenal polyps suggests that endoscopic surveillance is essential. Endoscopic polypectomies under sedation anesthesia have partly replaced open duodenotomies. High-risk patients with Spigelman IV adenomatosis or adenomas with persisting severe dysplasia should undergo surgery with pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy before invasive cancer develops.

Background: Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominant syndrome with an increased risk of polyposis complications and intestinal and extraintestinal tumours., Methods: During the last 15 years, we reviewed a series of 11 children with PJS, with special attention to evolution and follow-up. Diagnosis was based on at least 1 hamartomatous polyp associated with 2 of the 3 following criteria: family record of PJS, polyposis localised on small bowel, and mucocutaneous pigmentation. Diagnosis of PJS also could be raised by a single genetic analysis of STK11 gene., Results: Median age at beginning of symptoms was 6 years old. Seven of the 11 children had genetic tests, which were positive for STK11 gene mutation. Among the 10 children presenting with gastrointestinal complications, 8 were operated on, 6 had at least 1 small bowel resection, and 4 had repeat surgery for recurrent intussusceptions. In case of complications leading to a surgical procedure, we performed intraoperative enteroscopy to remove all large polyps. To prevent any polyposis complications, we suggest a complete check-up of polyposis topography with some of the new endoscopic tools, either double-balloon endoscopy or videocapsule endoscopy., Conclusions: Children with PJS have a high risk of numerous laparotomies due to polyps' complications. Therefore, a screening of intestinal polyposis by videocapsule endoscopy is recommended, as well as a screening of the most frequent sites of cancers for the patient's whole life. During any abdominal procedure, they should have an intraoperative endoscopy, this management allowing an increased time interval between 2 laparotomies.

An inflammatory fibroid polyp is a rare benign submucosal lesion frequently located in the gastric antrum but it may be found anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract with maximal incidence in the fifth and sixth decades of life. The main histological characteristics are diffuse inflammatory infiltrate with eosinophils, high vascularisation and a myofibroblastic component. Its localisation in the small bowel can cause intestinal invagination in adults, a condition, that occurs most frequently in childhood where, however, it is generally not related to a pathological lesion. The diagnosis may often be delayed because of its non-specific symptoms and most cases are diagnosed at emergency laparotomy, although CT scans can furnish useful preoperative information. In the majority of cases, the treatment of choice is surgical resection. Reduction performed prior to resection proves controversial in patients with colic intussusception because of the high incidence of malignancy. We report a case of a 37-year-old man who had undergone emergency surgery for acute ileum intussusception associated with a voluminous inflammatory fibroid polyp. The case described emphasises that patients with bowel obstruction pose a complex and difficult challenge to surgeons as regards the choice of the correct diagnostic work-up and optimal therapeutic management.

Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by distinctive cutaneous and gastrointestinal venous malformations that usually cause episodes of occult gastrointestinal haemorrhage and iron deficiency anaemia. We describe an 8-year-old girl who had multiple cutaneous venous malformations since birth. She also suffered from several episodes of severe chronic iron deficiency anaemia and required blood transfusions. To evaluate the presence of gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to intestinal angiomatosis, we decided to perform 99mTc-labelled red blood cell scintigraphy, which confirmed cutaneous venous malformations and also showed gastrointestinal vascular lesions that suggested the diagnosis of Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome.