Abstract

Intestinal polyps appear to be relatively rare in the African including Nigerians, South African Bantus, and Ugandans. Only 40 histologically confirmed cases were encountered over a period of ten years. Analysis of these cases reveals a preponderance (60%) of the non-neoplastic juvenile type of polyp. Neoplastic polyps were not encountered in any female patient. The mean ages of the patients are much lower than what has been observed in Caucasians inhabiting developed and industrialized countries. It is felt that there is probably a common or related aetiological agent for neoplastic intestinal polyps and carcinoma because the frequency of intestinal carcinoma appears to be relatively low in areas with a low frequency of neoplastic polyps.