A single method to document the size of endoscopically-excised colorectal polyps

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pathology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Previous studies using polyp-phantoms revealed significant inter- and intra-observer variability in colorectal polyp size assessment.
• Accurate measurement of endoscopically-resected colorectal polyps is crucial for clinical management and research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of polyp photocopies as a method for improving the accuracy and reliability of colorectal polyp size assessment.
• To compare the conventional millimetre ruler method with a novel photocopy-based measurement technique.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-five endoscopically-resected colorectal polyps were measured conventionally with a millimetre ruler.
• The same polyps were subsequently photocopied, and measurements were taken from the photocopies twice, one week apart.

Main Results:

• Photocopy measurements showed high agreement, with only one instance of underestimation by 1 mm on the second measurement.
• A significant disagreement (15/25 cases) was observed when conventional measurements were compared to photocopy assessments.

Conclusions:

• The photocopy method offers a reliable and reproducible approach to assessing colorectal polyp size.
• This technique facilitates re-evaluation of polyp size, aids inter-pathologist communication, and provides a visual aid for clinicians.
• The photocopy method surpasses the conventional ruler method in terms of documentation and accessibility for future reference and research.