Colonscopic excision of sessile polyps.

Most benign sessile colon polyps can be removed colonoscopically from all reaches of the colon, thus avoiding laparotomy previously required for most of these lesions. Two hundred and fifty colonoscopy procedures were reviewed, revealing 87 sessile colon polyps ranging from 0.5-6.0 cm. in size. Sixty-eight of 87 lesions were excised from 51 patients with just three lesions found to be malignant (invasive adenocarcinoma). Sixteen lesions were felt to be unsuitable for safe colonscopic excision and were, therefore, removed by laparotomy (in 12 patients) and six lesions found to be malignant. Three sessile lesions in this consecutive series were not yet removed at the time of this writing. Thorough bowel preparation and evaluation for other possible lesions are important components of this procedure, which yielded other polyps or cancers in 24 of 66 patients. While most sessile lesions less than 2 cm. in size can be excised endoscopically, certain larger benign sessile lesions can also be removed using piece-meal snare excision technics and radiowave electrocautery (principle of less heat penetration and tissue destruction). Seventy-nine per cent of all sessile colon polyps were excised colonoscopically in this series making abdominal surgery now unnecessary for most colon polyps. Laparotomy is necessary for certain larger benign lesions and all sessile lesions containing invasive cancer.