The site distribution and characteristics of colorectal adenomas in Hispanics: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVES

No data are available about the site distribution and characteristics of colorectal adenomas in Hispanics. The purpose of this study is to study the site distribution and characteristics of adenomas in Hispanics as compared to whites.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients who had colonoscopies with resection of adenomatous polyps. Patients were classified by age, sex, and race. Polyps were classified by site and histology.

RESULTS

Nine hundred ninety-four patients were included in the final analysis. These included 541 whites and 453 Hispanics. The mean age was 60 yr. The site distributions of adenomas were similar (p = 0.32), and adenoma histologies were similar (p = 0.16). Thirty percent of patients had no polyps in the descending colon (27%, Hispanics; 31%, whites).

CONCLUSION

Hispanics and whites have similar site distributions of colorectal adenomas and similar adenoma histologies. Screening modalities excluding the area proximal to the splenic flexure would miss about 30% of the polyps in both populations.