Adenoma characteristics at first colonoscopy as predictors of adenoma recurrence and characteristics at follow-up....

All patients with colorectal adenomas may not require identical follow-up. We aimed to determine if adenoma characteristics at initial colonoscopy could predict adenoma recurrence or characteristics at follow-up.

The number of adenomas and the size, type, and degree of atypia in 479 patients in a polyp prevention trial were evaluated as predictors of the same characteristics at follow-up using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine if several baseline characteristics were simultaneously associated with outcome.

Although several characteristics were significant predictors of recurrence univariately, by multivariate analysis, multiple adenomas at follow-up were more likely when patients had > or = 3 baseline adenomas (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.20-4.21) or at least 1 tubulovillous adenoma (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.12-4.02). No specific characteristic was associated with recurrence of high-risk polyps (> or = 1 cm, villous, severe atypia). Seventy percent of patients with 1 or 2 baseline adenomas had no recurrence, and only 3.3% had any adenomas of clinical concern.

Number and type of baseline adenomas predict recurrent adenomas, but the recurrence is rarely of clinical concern. Patients with 1 or 2 tubular adenomas constitute a low-risk group for whom follow-up might be extended beyond 3 years.