Gastroduodenal and ileal polyps in patients treated surgically for familial polyposis coli with proctocolectomy and continent ileostomy.

Eighteen patients, who previously had been treated surgically for familial polyposis coli with proctocolectomy and a continent ileostomy were re-investigated with endoscopy and X-ray for gastric, duodenal and ileal polyps. Gastric and/or duodenal polyps were found in 6 patients and ileal polyps in 2. Altogether upper GI-polyps were found in 7 patients (39%). Most polyps were true adenomas. In one patient with large gastric adenomas, the severe dysplasia called for a gastric resection. It is obvious that familial polyposis may affect the whole gastro-intestinal tract, therefore necessitating regular surveillance of the upper GI-canal as well as the colon and rectum in patients with this hereditary affliction.