DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2024.v10i04.011

Pages: 267-274

Introduction: A gastrointestinal polyp is an abnormal protrusion from the mucosal surface of the gastrointestinal lumen. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the clinical features, possible risk factors, endoscopic features, and histopathological patterns of gastrointestinal polyps among adult Sudanese patients. Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted at the Soba University Hospital Department of Endoscopy from March 2017 to March 2020. This study was conducted on patients with gastrointestinal polyps found upon colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. Results: The incidence of colonic polyps was 11.7% (237/2019). The mean age was 51 ± 18 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.5:1. The indications for colonoscopy were bleeding per rectum (28.7%; n=68), chronic constipation (16.5%; n=39), a change in bowel habits (11%; n=26), anaemia (8.8%; n=20), melena (3.8%; n=9), diarrhoea (3.8%; n=9%) and surveillance (20%; n=48%). A family history of cancer was directly correlated with the size of the colon polyp on endoscopy and the grade of dysplasia on histopathology (p values=0.01 and 0.02, respectively). The use of NSAIDs was significantly correlated with the site of colonic polyps, while no significant correlation was found with smoking status, alcohol consumption, or family history of polyps (p value=0.02). The main site of polyps for colonic polyps was the left colon (67.4%). Histopathology reports were available for 65.4% (n=155) of patients with polyps. The predominant histopathological type in the lower gastrointestinal tract was adenomatous in 46.4% (n=72) of patients. Conclusion: The frequency of colonic polyps was 11.7%. The main presentation for colonic polyps was bleeding per rectum. A small size < 0.5 cm and a sessile shape were the dominant endoscopic features of the lower gastrointestinal polyps. However, adenomatous polyps were the most common histopathological type of polyp among ......