Repeat colonoscopy after endoscopic polypectomy

The records of all patients undergoing endoscopic polypectomy between December 1979 and December 1982 were reviewed. One hundred seventy-two patients underwent colonoscopic polypectomy in the absence of carcinoma or inflammatory bowel disease. Of these, the polyp could not be retrieved in 4, and 19 were lost to follow-up. One hundred forty-nine patients underwent subsequent endoscopy from one to four years after the initial polypectomy. Seventy-five (50.3 percent) of the patients developed new polyps. Although 61 of the 75 patients with new polyps were identified in the first two years, new polyps were noted throughout all four years. The presence of multiple polyps on the initial examination was statistically significant in predicting new polyps. The age and sex of the patients, size of the polyps, and the presence of atypia did not identify patients at higher risk for new polyps. The data indicate that new polyps are more likely to develop in patients who had a previous polyp. It would appear that annual examinations should be performed until two successive examinations are negative. Following a second negative examination, reexamination at two- or three-year intervals, unless symptomatic, would appear to be adequate.