Inflammatory Fibroid Polyps of the Gastrointestinal Tract. A Report of 3 Cases, 2 Occurring in Children

Abstract

Inflammatory fibroid polyps (IFP) are polypoid lesions of the ailmentary tract exhibiting characteristic patterns of fibrous tissue and blood vessels, with inflammatory infiltrates often containing many eosinophils. The majority of such lesions occur in adults. The stomach is the most frequent site of involvement. This report describes 3 patients with IFP. Two are unusual because they occurred in children and involved the colon and ileum. The 3rd was in the stomach of an adult. The authors believe IFP to be a distinct histologic entity that is different from other inflammatory polyps of the intestine, and is different from lesions characterized by diffuse eosino-philic infiltration of segments of the alimentary tract. Such lesions have been placed in the same diagnostic category as IFP by some writers. Two examples of diffuse eosinophilic infiltration are presented to contrast the 2 types of lesions and support the contention that IFP should be placed in a separate category. The etiology of IFP is discussed and the authors are in agreement with most other writers that IFP are inflammatory lesions and not neoplasms. The exact mode of formation is not known. The possibility of an allergic mechanism is discussed, but most of the evidence does not support this view.