Abstract
Solitary juvenile polyp is a nonneoplastic condition but needs to be differentiated from a premalignant condition juvenile polyposis syndrome.
Keywords: Juvenile polyp, polyposis syndrome, retention polyp
Solitary juvenile polyp is a nonneoplastic condition but needs to be differentiated from a premalignant condition juvenile polyposis syndrome.
1. CASE PRESENTATION
A 50‐year‐old woman underwent screening colonoscopy which revealed a 15 mm pedunculated transverse colon polyp (Figure 1). Histologic examination of the polypectomy specimen showed cystically dilated glands with chronic inflammatory cells, suggesting a juvenile polyp, also known as retention polyp (Figure 2). Such polyps are most common in children during their first decade of life. Its size ranges from 3 mm to 3 cm; they are frequently pedunculated and commonly found in rectum. In children, it may present with rectal bleeding.1 Other less common presentations include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and prolapse of polyp through the rectum. Solitary juvenile polyp is benign and does not require surveillance. However, one may have more juvenile polyps proximally in the gastrointestinal tract indicating juvenile polyposis syndrome which has tendency to develop into colon cancer. Clinical criterion for juvenile polyposis syndrome includes any one of the following—five or more juvenile polyps in the colon, family history of juvenile polyposis, or its presence throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Hence, finding of a solitary juvenile polyp should prompt search for such polyps at other locations and thus differentiate from juvenile polyposis syndrome. Our patient did not have any other juvenile polyp elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Hence, no surveillance was recommended.
Figure 1.
Endoscopic image revealing a 15 mm pedunculated polyp in the transverse colon
Figure 2.
Histopathological imaging demonstrates cystically dilated glands characteristic of a solitary juvenile polyp
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
All authors have contributed in writing and reviewing the manuscript.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
None.
Kumar K, Patel H, Tariq H, Balar B, Makker J. A juvenile polyp on colonoscopy, is it premalignant?. Clin Case Rep. 2019;7:2605–2606. 10.1002/ccr3.2561
REFERENCES
- 1. Mosunjac M, Wehbi M. Electronic clinical challenges and images in GI. Juvenile (retention) polyp. Gastroenterology. 2008;134(2):e3‐4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]