[Therapeutic strategy in malignant polyps of the gastrointestinal tract]

Malignant polyps in the stomach are identical with early gastric carcinoma type I and IIa. Even if carcinomatous growth is restricted to the mucosa lymph node, metastases may occur; therefore, local measures like polypectomy or surgical excision are exceptional. Malignant gastric polyps should be treated according to classical tumour surgery. Things are different in malignant colonic polyps, i.e. adenomas with a carcinoma invading the submucosa. Unless one is dealing with a dedifferentiated carcinoma or invasion of lymph or blood vessels is seen a few millimetre of security are sufficient to save the patient from radical surgery.