Prevalence and Characteristics of Colorectal Polyps in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Iranian Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy from 2009-2013

Background: Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in males and the second in femalesin Iran. Males are more likely to develop CRC than women and age is considered as a main risk factor forcolorectal cancer. Prevalence of colorectal cancer has been increasing in Asian countries. Aim: The object of thisstudy was to determine the clinical and pathology characteristics of colorectal polyps in Iranian patients andto investigate the variation between our populations with other populations. Materials and
Methods: A total of167 patients with colorectal polyps were included in our study. All underwent colonoscopy during 2009-2013and specimens were taken through polypectomy and transferred to pathology. All data in patient files includingpathology reports were collected and analyzed by SPSS 16 software. A two-tailed test was used and a P-value of< 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Mean age of participants was 57±15. Some 84 were females (50.3%)and 83 males (49.7%). Total of 225 polyps were detected which 119 (52.9%) were in males and 106 (47.1%) werein females. Solitary polyps were observed in 124 patients (74%), 26 (15.6%) had two polyps and 17 (10.1%)with more than two polyps (three to five). Rectosigmoid was the site of most of the polyps (63.1%), followedby 19.6% in the descending colon, 7.6% in the transverse, 5.8% in the ascending, and 3.1% in the cecum, databeing missing in two cases.
Conclusions: Recto sigmoid was site of most of the polyps. The most prevalent typeof lesion was adenomatous polyps detected in 78 (34.7%). Mixed hyperplastic adenomatous type observed in 70(31.1%). This high prevalence of adenomatous polyps in Iranian patients implies the urgent need for screeningplans to prevent further healthcare problems with colorectal cancer in the Iranian population.