Abstract

Background/Aims
The current practice of colonoscopic polypectomy reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. However, clinicopathologic charateristics of colorectal adenoma in population under 50 years old are uncertain. This study was performed to investigate clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal adenoma and to determine colonoscopic indication of advanced adenoma in this population. Methods: A large scale, multicenter, prospective study was conducted from July 2003 through June 2004. Of the total 19,288 patients performed colonoscopy at 11 tertiary medical centers, we analysed 3,366 patients who undergone polypectomy and divided two groups by age of 50. Results: Among colonoscopic polypectomy, 10.7 percent (831/7,789) was younger patients and 22.0 percent (2.535/11,499) was older patients (p＜0.001), and the detection rate of advanced adenoma was significantly lower in younger patients than older patients (17.7% vs. 21.1%, p＜0.0050). In younger patients, the indications of colonoscopy were asymptomatic screening (32.7%), bowel habit change (24.0%), abdominal pain (16.8%), hematochezia (9.2%) and so on. The risk factors for advanced adenoma as colonoscopic indications in younger patients were hematochezia (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.3) and referred patients from primary clinic (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-3.0). Conclusions: This study documents lower prevalence of adenoma requiring polypectomy in younger patients compared with older patients and the low detection rate of advanced adenoma. Also, in this younger population, the colonoscopic polypectomy should be the first consideration in polyps with hamatochezia patients or referred patients from primary clinic. (Intest Res 2005;3:18-26)

• Keywords: Colorectal adenoma, Colonoscopic polypectomy, Age