[Gastric polyps: prognosis and treatment]

49 patients, previously treated for epithelial gastric polyps by resection or excision, were re-examined up to 22 years later. Except for those who had died of other diseases, in five histologically confirmed and in one a probable (radiologically) gastric carcinoma had been found. Three cases of gastric carcinoma without symptoms were discovered in the course of endoscopic follow-up examination. Two of these patients underwent radical operation (early carcinoma), while the third one proved to be inoperable. It is concluded that gastric polyps must be removed endoscopically or operatively and examined histologically: simple observation must be rejected. If the polyp is hyperplastic, local removal is sufficient. If there is a pure adenoma, two-third resection is essential. This is also true of hyperplasiogenic polyps if they are present in large numbers, while polypectomy is sufficient if solitary. Polyposis usually requires subtotal or total resection. Each patient with such polyps is exposed to a higher risk of gastric carcinoma. For this reason annual endoscopic control is necessary even if there are no symptoms.