[Polypoid processes of the stomach]

Among epithelial gastric polyps the adenoma and the so called borderline lesion may be looked upon as precancerous lesions. The most common epithelial benign polyp of the stomach is the hyperplasiogenic polyp; cancerisation is rather rare and occurs only if epigenetic factors come into claim. Development of a carcinoma in a primary benign epithelial polyp is very rare (1,3%). In most cases of gastric polyposis the polyps consist of glandular cysts. Polyposis as such is not a pre-cancerous condition; not the number of polyps is decisive in this regard, but their histological structure. A typical, non-epithelial polyp of the stomach is the so called "inflammatory-fibromatous" polyp. Small, nonepithelial polyps should be removed by polypectomy; bigger polyps should be investigated microscopically after biopsies have been taken. Big non-epithelial polyps should be operated upon without previous histological investigation. Very small polyps, especially in the fornix region, and in old patients or patients in bad condition do not have to be investigated by endoscopy and biopsy.