부산대학교 도서관

We surveyed prospectively the natural growth of very small colorectal polyps, 5 mm or smaller in diameter, which were observed through follow-up sigmoidoscopies conducted during the period from April 1992 to March 2007. A total of polyps of 710 cases were collected from 573 individuals. The follow-up period ranged from 7 months, the shortest, to 14 years, the longest. The results were as follows. 1) Several polyps were enlarged; for example, there were 2 cases (0.3%), 5 cases (0.7%), 15 case (2.1%) and 39 cases (5.5%) of polyps which grew to 5 mm, 4 mm, 3 mm, and 2 mm in diameter, respectively. 2) When a polyp grew to a diameter greater than 6 mm or the shape underwent definite changes, we recommended the examinee who had the polyp to undergo polypectomy. There were 79 cases (11.1%) in which polypectomy was recommended, and polypectomy was actually performed in 88.6% of those cases (70/79). Finally, there were no cancers among the polyps excised through polypectomy. 3) The rate of polyps growing to 2 mm or more in diameter and the rate of those for which we recommended polypectomy were low, and no remarkable changes were observed within the 4 years following the examination. But after 5 years, the rates became higher. Therefore, we assume that follow-up examination by endoscopy once every 5 years is an effective way to survey very small colorectal polyps.