Study finds large colorectal polyps pose low cancer risk

Editor's Note

In the majority of patients with large or difficult to remove colorectal polyps, the incidence of cancer is much lower than previously thought, suggesting advanced endoscopic treatments may be a viable option to traditional colon resection, this study finds.

Of 439 patients who had a colectomy at the Cleveland Clinic for colorectal polyps, cancer was identified in just 37, which means 92% of patients had their colon removed for noncancerous reasons. Nearly 20% developed complications within 30 days after surgery.

Treating these types of polyps with more advanced endoscopic techniques could avoid many complications, the authors say.