Epidemiological and histopathological characteristics of colonic polyps: A retrospective analysis of conventional adenomas and serrated polyps

Introduction and Aim: Colonic polyps are premalignant lesions that play an important role in the development of colorectal cancer. It is recommended to remove the detected polyps during colonoscopy and examine them histopathologically. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological and histopathological features of colorectal polyps and to investigate the relationship of conventional adenomas and serrated polyps with age and gender. Early detection and removal of polyps are critical steps in preventing colorectal cancer, and epidemiological data can help guide this process. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent colonoscopy at the Department of Gastroenterology, Manisa Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital, between January 2014 and December 2024, in whom colorectal polyps were detected and who met the inclusion criteria. A total of 1,790 patients, 2,060 colonoscopy sessions, and 3,022 colorectal polyps were analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 60.9 ± 11.5 years (61.5 ± 11.3 in men and 59.7 ± 11.8 in women). Of all patients, 67.21% were male and 32.79% were female. The average polyp size was 6.8 ± 5.2 mm, and 80.68% of them were smaller than 10 mm. Histopathological examination showed that 73.96% of the polyps were conventional adenomas, and 53.06% were tubular adenomas. The most common locations were the sigmoid colon (28.1%) and the rectum (25.55%). In multivariate analysis, age was found to be an independent risk factor for developing conventional adenomas; each year of age increased the likelihood of adenoma occurrence. In contrast, the frequency of serrated polyps decreased with age. Although the number of male patients was higher, gender had no independent effect on polyp type. Conclusion: Colorectal polyps are common, especially in individuals over 50 years of age. Age is a significant factor for the development of conventional adenomas, while serrated polyps tend to occur less frequently with increasing age. These results highlight the importance of regular colonoscopic screening for the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. Keywords: colonic polyps, adenoma, serrated polyp, localization, size, histology