Endoscopic gastric polypectomies.

Results of 48 consecutive endoscopic gastric polypectomies were reviewed. The most frequent complaint initiating diagnostic workup was epigastric discomfort. Hyperplastic polyps predominated, followed by adenomatous polyps, carcinoids, and other. Two adenomatous polyps contained foci of in situ malignant change. The low incidence of malignant change in adenomatous polyps (17%) can be accounted for by the smaller size (mean 1.4 cm) than that in other reports. No malignancy was found in or in conjunction with hyperplastic site (two) and poor patient compliance (one)--and no deaths. Endoscopic gastric polypectomy has been demonstrated to be a safe and effective therapy for gastric polyps. For adenomatous gastric polyps, endoscopic removal when the polyp is less than 2 cm in diameter will yield a low incidence of malignant change.