ABSTRACT

Background: Over the past few years, colon cancer cases have been increasing in Asian countries due to a shift in lifestyle.It is estimated that it takes at least 10 years for a polyp to progress to a carcinoma. Because this process is slow and takes time, early detection by colonoscopy can be very effective in reducing the incidence rate of colorectal cancer cases.

Aim: To define the rate of polyp detectionin our populationhence provide chance of surveillance and possible early treatment.

Study design: Retrospective study

Place and duration of study: Gastroenterology Endoscopy Unit, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar from 1st January 2015 to 31st March 2019.

Methodology: One thousand five hundred and fifty one colonoscopies performed at inpatient and outpatient departments. All the patients were included who had undergone limited colonoscopy, cecal intubation and ileal intubation. Patient who were diagnosed previously with polyps on colonoscopy and those who had follow up visits were excluded.

Results: There were 899 (57.96%) males and 652 (42.04%) females. The ethnicities were Pakistanis, 1162 (74.92%) and Afghanis (24.95%). Gastrointestinal bleeding(30.75%) was the most common complaint and indication. One hundred and thirteen patients had at least 1 polyp. Overall polyp detection rate (PDR) was113 (7.29%) of which 71 were in males and 42 were in females and detection rate of polyp was almost equal in both the ethnicities. Polypswere more commonly detected in the age range 20-39 years (27.41%), followed by ages ranging 60-79 years (6.03%). Majority of the polyps were located in the rectal region (47.97%) followed by sigmoid region(21.24%), cecum, ascending and transverse colon (7.32%) and descending colon (6.50%).

Conclusion: Colonoscopy remains an effective tool in detecting colonic polyps and a measure to prevent advanced disease by providing a chance for surveillance and polypectomy if required. The PDR from colonoscopy is 7.23% in our Institute.

Keywords:Colonic polyps; Colon, Descending, Colon; Transverse; Colon, Sigmoid; Colonoscopy