Prolapsing mucosal polyps in the sigmoid colon: Presenting with chronic abdominal cramping pain and colonic obstruction

Abstract

Colorectal polypoid lesions are classified as either neoplastic or non-neoplastic, and the differentiation between the two lesions is important for clinical practice, however, this is not easy in some rare cases. Cases of colonic prolapsing mucosal polyps are rare (1-3). They are often, but not always, associated with diverticular disease and present with abdominal pain, obstructive symptoms or bleeding. On colonoscopic examination, the lesions are characterized by multiple polyps or elevated patches with smooth and bright red colored surface. The histological features include: glandular crypt abnormalities, fibromuscular obliteration of the lamina propria, and thickened and splayed muscularis mucosa. We report herein a case of sigmoid colonic prolapsing mucosal polyps presenting with acute lower abdominal cramping pain and colonic obstruction who was diagnosed based on colonoscopy and endosonography findings and treated with conservative management. © 2007 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.