Juvenile colorectal polyps in children

Objective: A retrospective analysis of the clinical records of children who had colorectal polyps excised during a 10-year period. Setting: King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh. Patients & Methods: Eight children had colorectal polyps excised during this period. The data obtained included age, sex, clinical presentation, preoperative evaluation, surgical treatment and histology of the polyps. Results: The ages of the children ranged from 2.5 years to 8 years (mean 3.9 years). Intermittent, painless, fresh rectal bleeding was the most common presenting symptom. All the polyps were located within the distal 15 cm of the intestinal tract. Seven children had a solitary polyp and one child had 2. The polyps were removed either transanally or via colonoscopy. The histology of all polyps was consistent with juvenile polyps. Conclusion: Juvenile polyp, most common colorectal polyp in children, most commonly presents with intermittent, painless, fresh rectal bleeding.