[Endoscopic polypectomy--sense and nonsense].

The vast majority of gastrointestinal polyps are hyperplastic polyps or adenomas, their identification is possible bioptically. Adenomas are precancerous lesions, smaller ones with a diameter minor than 1 cm show invasive carcinoma in nearly 1%, in major polyps the percentage of invasive carcinoma will be 10% and more. Adenomas should therefore be removed with electrocautery snare (endoscopic polypectomy).