Papaconstantinou I, Karakatsanis A, Benia X, Polymeneas G, Kostopoulou E. Solitary rectal cap polyp: Case report and review of the literature. World J Gastrointest Surg 2012; 4(6): 157-162 [PMID: 22816031 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v4.i6.157]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Andreas Karakatsanis, MD, Second Department of Surgical, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens, Medical School, 76 Vas Sophias Av, 11528 Athens, Greece. andreas.karakatsanis@gmail.com
Article-Type of This Article
Case Report
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World J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 27, 2012; 4(6): 157-162 Published online Jun 27, 2012. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v4.i6.157
Solitary rectal cap polyp: Case report and review of the literature
Ioannis Papaconstantinou, Andreas Karakatsanis, Xanthi Benia, George Polymeneas, Evanthia Kostopoulou
Ioannis Papaconstantinou, Andreas Karakatsanis, Xanthi Benia, George Polymeneas, Second Department of Surgical, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens, Faculty of Medicine, 76 Vas Sophias Av, 11528 Athens, Greece
Evanthia Kostopoulou, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larisa, Greece
Author contributions: Papaconstantinou I designed the research; Karakatsanis A and Kostopoulou E performed the research and wrote the paper; Karakatsanis A analyzed the data; Benia X designed the tables; and Polymeneas G and Papaconstantinou I reviewed the paper.
Correspondence to: Andreas Karakatsanis, MD, Second Department of Surgical, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens, Medical School, 76 Vas Sophias Av, 11528 Athens, Greece. andreas.karakatsanis@gmail.com
Telephone: +30-210-7286130 Fax: +30-210-7286170
Received: June 23, 2011 Revised: December 23, 2011 Accepted: December 28, 2011 Published online: June 27, 2012
Abstract
Rectal bleeding combined with the presence of a rectal mass has been traditionally associated with the presence of malignant disease. Cap polyposis is a relatively young and still undefined rare entity which mainly involves the rectosigmoid. It is characterized by the presence of inflammatory polyps. In this case report, we present a patient who was diagnosed with a solitary cap polyp of the rectum during the investigation of a bleeding rectal mass. The patient’s age and the absence of family history were not in favor of malignancy, despite the strong initial clinical impression. After confirmation of the diagnosis, the patient underwent a snare excision and remains asymptomatic. Cap polyposis, although rare, should be suspected and, when diagnosed, should be treated according to location, number of polyps and severity of symptoms.
