Surg Endosc (1995) 9:456 Surgical Endoscopv

Vegetable seed simulating colon polyp

Please find enclosed an image I would like to share with your readers. A 54-year-old female was referred to me for hematochezia. She had a history of colono- scopic polypectomy some 3 years prior to her visit with me, but was never seen in follow-up. Otherwise, she was asymptomatic and in good health. Upon colonoscopic evaluation a 4-mm polyp was discovered in the ascending colon (Fig. 1); this was removed using a snare and electrocautery. Pathologic evaluation de- termined it to be a vegetable seed surrounded by in- flammatory tissue. Follow-up colonoscopy in 1 year was normal. I suspect the seed had a sharp point and

impaled itself into the colonic mucosa. Simple polyp- ectomy was all that was required. Reviewing the liter- ature, I could not find a description of a vegetable seed mimicking a colonic polyp.

V. Velanovich

General Surgery Service ATTN: HSXM-SSC-S Ireland Army Community Hospital 851 Ireland Loop Fort Knox, KY 40121-5520 USA

Fig. 1.