Gastrointestinal polypoid lesions: a poorly known endoscopic feature of portal hypertension

Aim: To describe a poorly known endoscopic entity associated with portal hypertension, characterized by polypoid lesions either in the stomach or small intestine of patients with cirrhosis. Methods: Between 2003 and 2012, patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension underwent endoscopic workup of portal hypertension in our endoscopy unit. The clinical expression, endoscopic features of these lesions, and their pathological characteristics are described. Results: A total of 1538 patients were included, among which 14 (0.9%) presented polypoid lesions; these patients had evidence of portal hypertension and had dilated capillaries in the lamina propria. Four patients presented with severe anaemia or melaena and required treatment. Propranolol was administered to three patients, and one patient needed a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in order to control bleeding. For asymptomatic patients in whom polypoid lesions were resected, no recurrence of lesions was observed during follow-up gastroscopy (median 36 months, range 7-85 months). Conclusion: Portal hypertension-associated gastric or small intestine polypoid lesions may be associated with a significant risk of bleeding and are responsive to adequate treatment of portal hypertension.