Gastric lesion of familial polyposis coli

Gastric polyps in familial polyposis coli are a unique type of adenomatous (neoplastic) polyp characterized by multiple occurrences. This paper reports 15 cases of familial polyposis coli in 6 different unselected families. Clinical studies such as roentgenogram and endoscopic examinations were carried out in 12 cases, the resected stomach was examined in 2, and autopsy material was used in 2. Elevated lesions were found in the stomachs of 10 (66.7%), which was a much higher incidence than in the results of a nationwide survey of this disease in Japan (10%). We believe that this disease is not necessarily localized to the large intestine, and that the absence of gastric polyps in other case reports is probably due to insufficient examination of the stomach. We also believe that our findings could be influenced by an environmental factor in Japan.