Pitfalls in polypectomy: from gene to cure

Unsuspected problems are commonly encountered during colonoscopic polypectomy. This paper identifies the most frequent difficulties and describes solutions to them. One of the most important pitfalls is overlooking a lesion or tumour in the colon; this can only be solved by better training, experience and care, although it may happen in the best of hands with the most knowledgeable colonoscopist. Other pitfalls addressed include the stuck snare, use of a gastroscope for the difficult sigmoid polyp, and methods to aid discovery and retrieval of the polypectomy specimen.