Polyps of the colon and rectum

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions Polyps were found in 38.8 per cent of colons removed at autopsy from persons over 30 years of age. The incidence increased with the age of the subjects. There is reason to believe that statistics based on sigmoidoscopy, roentgenologic examination after administration of a barium enema, palpation of the bowel during operation and study of excised segments of the colon are of doubtful value for the purpose of establishing the incidence of polyps. Correlation between the distribution of polyps and carcinoma is not impressive. Polyps occur most commonly in the cecum and sigmoid flexure per unit length of bowel and are least common in the rectum. Their distribution in the rectum does not coincide with that of carcinoma.