[Prognosis of colorectal tumors in patients with synchronous polyps]

A retrospective study was carried out in 110 patients who underwent colon resection for cancer of the colon-rectum. Polypoid formation reappeared in 10 (21.5%) patients in whom synchronous polyps were found around carcinoma during initial staging; during the follow-up polyps were only found in 3% of patients in whom synchronous polyps had not been documented. A similar ratio was found in the incidence of neoplastic recurrences which was greater (14%) in patients with synchronous polyps. This incidence was higher in cases with multiple polyps and/or polyps larger than 2 cm in size, and in relation to their histological type. The authors suggest that a more comprehensive operation, for example subtotal colectomy, should be performed in patients at greater risk to develop a second primary carcinoma, and/or that a particularly careful post-operative follow-up should be carried out in these patients.