[Endoscopic polypectomy in the large bowel--the pathologist's view]

Colonoscopy remains the main diagnostic tool in colorectal diseases. Endoscopic polypectomy is a routine therapeutic method for colorectal adenomas, but its yield must be verified histologically. Complete endoscopic and histologic resection of an adenoma is regarded as a sufficient method of its treatment. Some early colon cancers can also be managed endoscopically, providing that strict histologic criteria are fulfilled. It is the duty of clinicians to supply pathologists with all the clinical data on the patient and to properly mark the resected specimen. Pathologists must understand the therapeutic technique, its limits, and provide physicians with a detailed histopathological report that includes not only a proper histological assessment of the resected tissue, but also a comment on completeness of the neoplasm resection. This article should help both clinicians and pathologists to benefit from the potential of histological examination.