Variable detection of nonadenomatous polyps by individual endoscopists at colonoscopy and correlation with adenoma...

There is variation between endoscopists in their detection of colorectal adenomas. There is less understanding of variation between endoscopists in detection and management of nonadenomas.

To describe the removal rates of nonadenomas, variability between endoscopists, and the association of adenoma removal with nonadenoma removal.

Consecutive colonoscopy reports by 9 gastroenterologists at Indiana University Hospital between January 1999 and January 2004 were obtained. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease, polyp syndromes, or who were referred for polypectomy were excluded.

There were 10,034 included colonoscopies. The prevalence of nonadenomatous polyps increased from 26.6% at age 30 years to 29.3% at age 70 years (P=0.02); this association was much less powerful than that of age with removal of adenomas. The range of finding > or =1 nonadenomatous polyp was 11.8% to 34.9%. The correlation between adenoma detection and nonadenoma removal by individual endoscopists for the full cohort was 0.79 and for persons age > or =50 years was 0.84.

Detection of nonadenomatous polyps by individual endoscopists at colonoscopy is highly variable and correlates with increased removal rates of adenomatous polyps.