Pathological characterization of colorectal polyps in Ilorin, Nigeria

Colorectal polyps especially the adenomas are recognized precursors of colorectal carcinoma. Identification and removal of such polyps before malignant transformation could reduce the burden of colorectal carcinoma. To document the demography and the histopathological types ofcolorectal polyps received by the Department of Pathology of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital over a period of thirty years. This is a retrospective review of all cases ofcolorectal polyps that were received, processed and had histological diagnosis in our centre between 1979 and 2008 using the request cards and hematoxylin and eosin stained slides. Forty-four cases of colorectal polyps were reviewed constituting 6.7 percent of all colorectal biopsies/resections received in the same period. The male to female ratio was 2.1:1. Seventeen (38.6%) were adenomas, 9 (20.5%) were juvenile polyps, 8 (18.2%) were inflammatory polyps, 4 cases were lipomatous polyps, 3 were leiomatous polyps, and one each of lymphoid polyp, hamartomatous polyp and neurofibromatous polyp. Of the adenomas, 11 (58.8%) were tubular, 5 (29.4%) were villous, 1 (5.9%) was tubulovillous, and one was a villous adenoma with a focus of malignant transformation. Adenomatous polyp is the commonest pathological type ofcolorectal polyps in our centre. This study therefore sets out to review the age and sex distribution, location and morphological characteristics of all cases of colorectal polyps in our centre over the study period.