Endoscopic features of adenoma of the duodenal papilla in familial polyposis of the colon.

The duodenal papillae of 24 patients with familial polyposis of the colon were examined in detail by duodenofiberscopy and endoscopic biopsy. Adenomas were detected in 12 of the 24 patients (50%). Endoscopically the duodenal papilla had a white nodular or granular surface in most of the patients in whom adenoma was detected. In two patients, however, the endoscopic picture of the adenoma at the duodenal papilla was almost normal. Based on these observations, endoscopy and biopsy of the duodenal papilla should be added to the usual examination done in patients with this disease.