[Therapeutic aspects of endoscopic polypectomy]

466 endoscopic polypectomies of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract were analysed according to their curative value. In 254 removed polyps of the upper gastrointestinal tract the result of the histological examination was twice a proof of a carcinoma. One it had to be after-resected, once a carcinoid, five times bleeding polyps were removed. Four times prolapsing gastric polyps were removed in the bulbus duodeni. In these cases intermittent disturbances of the passage could be repaired. Thus the endoscopic polypectomy in the upper gastrointestinal tract was of therapeutic value in 4.3%. In the lower intestinal tract in 204 polypectomies 16 focal carcinomas or invasive carcinomas removed in the healthy tissue, 1 carcinoid and 98 bleeding adenomas were cut away. Thus the coloscopic polypectomy was connected with a therapeutic use in 56.3%. 81.8% of the polyps was tubular, papillary or villous adenomas. Taking into consideration the "adenoma-cancer-sequence", the coloscopic polypectomy must thus be regarded as a prophylactic and curative method, while in the polypectomy in the upper gastrointestinal tract the diagnostic value is in the first place.