Colonie Polyps in Patients with Acromegaly

Abstract

Seventeen patients with acromegaly were prospectively studied with Ba enemas and colonoscopy to investigate the possibility that acromegaly is associated with an increased frequency of colonic polyps and colon cancer. Polyps were identified in 9 patients and were removed and examined in eight. In 5 patients the polyps were adenomatous, and in 4 of the 5 there were multiple polyps. The presence of polyps closely correlated with the presence of skin tags (P = 0.041) and also with the age of the patient (P < 0.01). No new cases of colonic cancer were discovered; however, reviewing the records of 44 patients with acromegaly, 4 cases were previously diagnosed with colon carcinoma. This study identifies a unique group of patients that are at risk for the development of colonic polyps and perhaps colon cancer.