RESUMO
The majority of polyps found in the adult colon and rectum are of the adenomatous type and approximately 10% of these are of the villous type. The villous adenoma occurs in persons of all ages and in all segments of the intestinal tube. Villous adenomas are almost always located in the rectum, sigmoid or rectosigmoid, and are flat, soft and sometimes sessible. They may have a very short or long pedicle. The tendency toward mixed histology increases with polyp size, as does the tendency toward malignant change. From 1990 through 1995, 19 patients with a median age of 44 years [21-67] had broad based rectal villous adenomas located on five to 18 cm from the outer margin of the anus. Microscopy showed villous adenoma in 14 cases and adenocarcinoma on a villous adenoma base in five cases. Various surgical treatment modalities were carried out in all cases and no recurrence was noted in a mean follow-up period of 2.3 years. In 19 patients serum CEA or CA. 19-9 did not differ from healthy individuals