Background: Colorectal polyps (CP) are common among individuals older than 50 years. Some polyp types can precede colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed at describing histopathological characteristics of colorectal polyps in relation to age and gender among symptomatic patients referred for a colonoscopy examination during 2011-2014 in Tirana, Albania.
Methods: Study population included 267 individuals aged ≥ 20 years and diagnosed with ≥ 1 polyp during a colonoscopy examination. A total of 346 polyps were identified, excised and measured, and underwent histopathological examination.
Results: Adenomas accounted for 79.8% of all polyps and tubular type was the most frequent one (74.4%). The majority of polyps (42.5%) were small (<1 cm), 38.7% of a medium size (1-2 cm) and 18.8% large (>2 cm). Adenomas were larger than non-adenomatous polyps (p<0.01) There was no gender difference with regard to patient age (p=0.22) or polyp size (p=0.84) Adenomas were more frequent among men compared to women (p=0.02). Age was strongly related to polyp characteristics. The proportion of adenomas increased significantly with age (p<0.01). Within adenomas, the proportion of villous types - a precursor of colorectal cancer - increased remarkably with age (p=0.01). Older age was positively associated with potentially malignant adenomas (defined as adenomas > 1 cm and showing high-grade dysplasia) (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Adenomas accounted for the majority of polyps. Their morphology, size and malignant potential were related to patient age.
Uvod: Kolorektalni polipi (CP) so pogost pojav pri posameznikih po 50 letu starosti. Nekatere vrste polipov se lahko razvijejo v kolorektalnega raka (CRC). Ta raziskava skuša opisati histopatološke značilnosti kolorektalnih polipov v povezavi s starostjo in spolom med simptomatskimi pacienti, ki so bili napoteni na kolonoskopsko preiskavo v obdobju od leta 2011 do 2014 v Tirani, Albanija.
Metode: Raziskava je vključevala 267 posameznikov, starih 20 ali več let, ki jim je bil med kolonoskopijo diagnosticiran najmanj en polip. Skupno je bilo identificiranih, odstranjenih, izmerjenih in podvrženih histopatološki preiskavi 346 polipov.
Rezultati: Adenomi so predstavljali 79,8% vseh polipov, med njimi pa je prevladoval tubulni tip (74,4%). Večina polipov (42,5%) je bilo majhnih (<1 cm), 38,7% je bilo srednje velikosti (1-2 cm), 18,8% pa je bilo velikih (>2 cm). Adenomi so bili večji kot ne-adenomatozni polipi (p<0,01). Z vidika starosti pacientov (p=0,22) oziroma velikosti polipa (p=0,84) ni bilo bistvene razlike med spoloma. Adenomi so bili bolj pogosti pri moških kot pri ženskah (p=0,02). Starost je močno povezana z značilnostmi polipa. Delež adenomov se je s starostjo bistveno povečal (p<0,01). V smislu adenomov se je delež viloznih tipov – prekurzorjev kolorektalnega raka – s starostjo izjemno povečal (p=0,01). Višja starost je potrjeno povezana s potencialno malignimi adenomi (opredeljeno kot adenomi >1 cm, ki izkazujejo visoko stopnjo displazije) (p<0,01).
Zaključek: Adenomi predstavljajo večino polipov. Njihova morfologija, velikost in potencial rakavosti je povezan s starostjo pacienta.
Keywords: Albania; Albanija; colonoscopy examination; colorectal polyp; epidemiologija; epidemiology; kolonoskopija; kolorektalni polipi.