The risk for recurrence of colon polyps is high, even among patients who are properly screened and who are treated with polypectomy, according to an article in the February 24th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Background information given in the article indicates that roughly 37 percent to 60 percent of patients who receive screening after polypectomy are found to have more polyps.

In the current study, Marianne Ulcickas Yood, D.Sc., M.P.H., and her American colleagues determined the risk and the length of time between polypectomy and the return of polyps in 8,865 patients who were part of a large health maintenance organization where colon cancer screening was routinely done. The participants were 50 years old or older and underwent a polypectomy between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 1999. Patients were followed through September 1, 2001.

Of the 8,865 patients who underwent polypectomy, 2,704 patients (30.5 percent) were diagnosed with recurrent polyps. After analysis, the researchers projected that an estimated 50 percent of all patients will have a recurrence within 7.6 years. Among patients who underwent colon screening at least 9 months after their polypectomy (52 percent of the study group), the authors' analysis suggested that 50 percent would have a recurrent polyp within 3.9 years.

"Efforts to increase and monitor ongoing screening of post-polypectomy patients and efforts to improve appropriate colorectal cancer screening activities are warranted," write the authors. "In addition, further research is needed to better identify patients at risk for recurrence so that continued screening and other interventions can be targeted at these groups."