[Serrated polyps and their association with synchronous advanced colorectal neoplasia]

Large serrated polyps (SP), proximal SP, SP with dysplasia and the presence of multiple sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/P), which we refer to as SP with increased risk of metachronous lesions (SPIRML), have been associated with an increased risk of advanced colon lesions on follow-up. It is unclear, however, whether SPIRML are also associated with an increased risk of synchronous advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACN).

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of SPIRML and to evaluate the association between SPIRML and synchronous ACN.

A cross-sectional population-based study in all patients (1,538) with histological diagnosis of SP obtained from colonoscopies, sigmoidoscopies and colonic surgery performed in Navarra Health Service hospitals (Spain) in 2011. Demographic parameters and synchronous colonic lesions (adenomas, advanced adenomas [AA] and ACN) were analyzed.

One fourth of the sample (384 patients) presented SPIRML. These were older patients, with a slight predominance of women, and with no differences in body mass index (BMI) compared to patients without SPIRML. In the univariate analysis, patients with SPIRML showed an increased risk of adenoma, AA and ACN. In the multivariate analysis, the SPIRML group had a higher risk of synchronous AA and ACN (odds ratio [OR]: 2.38 [1.77-3.21] and OR: 2.29 [1.72-3.05], respectively); in the case of ACN, this risk was statistically significant in both locations (proximal or distal), with OR slightly higher for the proximal location. Different subtypes of SPIRML had a higher risk of AA and synchronous NA.

SPIRML were common in patients with SP, and their presence was associated with an increased risk of synchronous ACN.