Juvenile polyps of the colon and rectum.

Two hundred and fifty-eight patients with juvenile polyps were reviewed. Ten patients less than 20 years of age were found to have adenomas. The points to be presented can, therefore, be emphasized. Juvenile polyps are a distinct pathologic entity and can occur at any age and in either sex. Adenomas do exist in pediatric patients. We should not assume that every polyp in patients less than 20 years of age is automatically a juvenile polyp and, therefore, benign. Barium enema is recommended for any child or adolescent in whom one or more polyps are found. In multiple polyposis, the finding that one polyp is of the juvenile type does not necessarily rule out the presence of adenoma. Any patient with a solitary adenoma who has multiple polyps, whether adenoma or juvenile polyps, should be observed at appropriate intervals by sigmoidoscopic, roentgenographic and, possibly, colonoscopic examination. Finally, we hope that this study will inspire others to investigate further this interesting pathologic condition.