Juvenile polyps of the colon

Our experience with 89 juvenile polyps in 55 patients over a thirty-year period is presented. The juvenile polyp has a distinct histologic appearance, is not synonymous with the adenomatous polyp, and has no proved malignant potential. Bleeding was the most common symptom and was present in 53 of the 55 patients and was not severe in any of the cases. Whereas significantly symptomatic polyps should be removed, laparotomy for removal of colonic polyps in order to prevent bleeding or intussusception is not indicated. Because the co-association of a juvenile polyp and an adenomatous polyp in the same patient has not been recorded, laparotomy should not be performed for removal of a colonic polyp in a patient with documented juvenile polyps of the rectum. In the absence of a rectal polyp for biopsy, laparotomy for removal of proximal colon polyps is not recommended in the first decade of life and is only recommended in the second decade of life if there is a history of familial polyposis or multiple polyps beyond the reach of the sigmoidoscope.