Incidentally Discovered Solitary Gastrointestinal Polyp with Pathological Significance in Children: Four Case Reports

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Gastrointestinal Pathology

Background:

• Solitary gastrointestinal polyps in children are typically inflammatory or hamartomatous.
• While hyperplastic, adenomatous, and sentinel polyps are occasionally seen in adults, their occurrence in pediatric populations is rare.

Observation:

• This study reports four unusual cases in Korean children: an adenomatous polyp in the colon, a hyperplastic polyp near the gastroesophageal junction, a prepyloric hyperplastic polyp, and a distal esophageal sentinel polyp.
• These lesions were incidentally discovered during endoscopic procedures for gastrointestinal symptoms.

Findings:

• The findings highlight the rare occurrence of specific polyp types (adenomatous, hyperplastic, sentinel) in Korean children.
• These diagnoses were incidental, underscoring the need for vigilance during endoscopy for pediatric GI symptoms.

Implications:

• The incidental diagnosis of these rare polyps suggests that pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy may reveal unexpected pathologies.
• Delayed diagnosis is possible in children due to the infrequent use of endoscopy for screening, emphasizing the importance of thorough examination when symptoms are present.