Site-Specific Distribution Of Large-Bowel Adenomatous Polyps - Emphasis On Ethnic-Differences

The anatomic distribution of adenomatous polyps occurring in the large intestine of 98 consecutive patients was studied. Fifty-two of the patients were black and 46 were white. Seventy-nine percent of lesions in whites were found in the distal colon and rectum, whereas in blacks this occurred in only 47 percent. The difference was significant (P<.01). Black patients also displayed a greater frequency of synchronous polyps and had a higher incidence of previous colorectal polyps. The findings suggest that the total colonic surveillance is essential in black patients to adequately screen for large-bowel neoplasia.