Local excision of rectal polyp: indications and techniques

The local excision of a rectal polyp is often wrongly considered to be a minor surgical procedure. In reality, the malignant potential of adenomas and the not-infrequent presence of cancer in larger polyps, require, for their removal, an oncologically correct operation with strict indication and accurate execution. Despite an increasing inclination to extend the indications of endoscopic polypectomies to polyps of larger size and villous configuration, the local surgical approach remains the preferred treatment in most cases. Here the indications and the results of different surgical techniques proposed for the local excision of a rectal polyp are reported. Among these procedures, transanal endoscopic microsurgery is gaining a primary role in many circumstances.