Eighty-two patients with colon and rectal polyps containing invasive adenocarcinoma treated by polypectomy alone were studied. Seven of 34 patients (21 percent) with sessile lesions had an adverse outcome, including five local recurrences and two distant metastases. They occurred from 4 to 68 months after the polypectomy. Forty-seven pedunculated polyps with invasion to the head (Level 1) or to the stalk (Level 3) and one polyp to the base of the stalk (Level 4) had no evidence of local recurrence or signs of metastasis. Twenty-eight percent of patients were found to have adenomatous polyps, and 4 percent had malignant polyps during the follow-up examinations (range, 3-119 months; mean, 53 months). The findings suggested that pedunculated polyps with invasion to the head (Level 1), neck (Level 2), or stalk (Level 3) can be safely treated with a complete polypectomy provided that the carcinoma is not undifferentiated. Sessile lesions as well as Level 4 pedunculated lesions should be treated aggressively. If resection is not performed, a long-term follow-up in these patients is essential.

Epidemiologic study, level III.

The results indicate that the Injury Severity Score adjusted in-hospital mortality rates for young patients with EDH were 4.8%. Given the limited information on morbidity resulting from EDH, further analysis to examine modifiable factors for better management and to evaluate survivor's long-term health outcomes via a longitudinal follow-up study is warranted.