Clinical, endoscopic, and histological characterization of pediatric patients with colorectal polyps attended at the center for digestive diseases and the IHSS-HRN from 2021-2022

Abstract

Background: Colorectal polyps are the most common cause of non-anemic lower gastrointestinal bleeding. It occurs in 3-4% of the population under 21 years of age.
Objective: To describe the clinical, endoscopic and histological characteristics of pediatric patients with colorectal polyps treated from 2021- 2022.
Patients and methodology: Descriptive, analytical, retrospective, cross-sectional study carried out on 93 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Non-probabilistic convenience sampling was used, using a survey-type instrument.
Results: Male sex, mestizo race, age between 5-10 years and urban origin prevailed. The main reason for consultation was lower gastrointestinal bleeding, which together with polyp prolapse were the two gastrointestinal symptoms referred.

Endoscopically, the most frequent finding was 1-4 polyps, rectal location, sessile appearance. Polypectomy proved to be a safe procedure. The inflammatory polyp was the most frequent histological report.
Conclusions: Colorectal polyps should be the first suspected diagnosis in pediatric patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding not associated with diarrhea or constipation. Early referral to the pediatric gastroenterologist helps promptly to improve the patient's quality of life; and we found that is currently being done late. No statistically significant relationship was found between age, sex, appearance and diagnosis of the polyp.