Diffuse juvenile polyposis of the colon: a premalignant condition?

Juvenile polyps are a common cause of rectal bleeding in the pediatric age group. These polyps are usually solitary, but occasionally polyposis can be identified by barium-enema or colonoscopy examinations. The benign nature of a single polyp or even scattered polyposis in childhood has been supported by several authors. A case of diffuse juvenile polyposis of the colon with associated adenomatous polyps of the colon in a 17-year-old who presented with iron deficiency anemia and rectal prolapse is discussed. This combination of diffuse juvenile polyposis and adenomatous polyps is an uncommon entity which is left to represent a premalignant lesion that warrants appropriate therapy. A review of the literature concerning the cause, diagnosis, and treatment of juvenile polyps is also discussed.