Extent of unnecessary surgery for benign rectal polyps in the Netherlands.

Background And Aims: Minimally invasive techniques are available to safely and efficaciously remove even the largest rectal polyps. This study aimed to investigate the magnitude of cases still referred for radical rectal surgery and the reasons for these referrals and to perform a re-evaluation of cases potentially suitable for endoscopic therapy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from the Dutch Pathology Registry (Pathologic Anatomic Nationwide Automated Archive) was performed using the records of patients who underwent major surgical treatment for a histologically proven benign rectal polyp between 2005 and 2014 in the Netherlands.