[Endoscopic resection of 49 polyps of the colon and rectum larger than 2 cm]

The management of rectal and colonic polyps has changed since the advent of endoscopic polypectomy, that interrupts the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. We assessed the effectiveness, limitations, morbidity and mortality of endoscopic polypectomy in 49 polyps larger than 2 cm in diameter. Polypectomy was successful in 94% of polyps, which were predominantly located in left colon (92%) and were pedunculated (87%). A malignant component was found in 28.3% of polyps, that was observed with higher frequency in larger and sessile polyps and in male patients. There was no mortality and scarce morbidity related to the procedure. It is concluded that polypectomy is a low risk procedure that can be frequently performed in ambulatory patients and that endoscopists must suspect malignancy in polyps larger than 2 cm in diameter.