Three-Year Outcomes of Unresected Small Polyps Detected by CT Colonography

In a study from the Netherlands, 93 people were offered 3-year surveillance CT colonography (CTC) after one or two small (6–9-mm) polyps were detected as their largest lesions. In the 70 patients who returned, 95 polyps had originally been detected. Mean polyp volume rose from 85.9 mm³ at initial detection to 127.6 mm³ at a mean surveillance interval of 3.3 years; mean linear size increased from 6.6 mm to 7.3 mm. Of the 95 polyps, 33 increased in volume by >30%, 26 decreased in volume by >30%, and 36 remained stable (i.e., no volume change >30%). Thirteen of the 26 regressing polyps could not be found on repeat CT.

Of 82 polyps detected by surveillance CTC, 68 (83%) were removed by colonoscopy. By the time of removal, 47% of progressing poly…