Juvenile polyps are typically found in 2 to 6 year old boys and girls but can be found in younger and older children up to about 10 years of age. Most harmless ...SkiptoContentLocationsEmergencyUrgentCareInThisSectionPolypsOnoccasiontherenewalprocessoftheliningofthedigestivetractcreatesanoutgrowthoftissuereferredtoasapolypthatcanextendoutintotheemptyspacewithinthestomach,smallintestine,orcolon.OverviewSigns&SymptomsDiagnosisResearchWhatarePolyps?Theliningofthedigestivetractisinastateofconstantrepairwhereoldcellsdieandareshedandnewcellstaketheirplace.Onoccasionthisrenewalprocesscreatesanoutgrowthoftissuereferredtoasapolypthatcanextendoutintotheemptyspacewithinthestomach,smallintestine,orcolon.Mushroomshapedorpedunculatedpolypshaveanarrowstalkthatconnectsaballshapedendtotheintestinalwall.Flatorsessilepolypsgrowdirectlyonthewalloftheintestine.Polypsbeginassmalllumpsthatcangrowovertimetothesizeofagrapeorlarger.Whenpolypsareexaminedunderthemicroscope,theycangenerallybedividedintotwogroups:Hamartomaswhicharemushroom-likeandcalledjuvenilepolypsAdenomaswhichcanbeeitherflatormushroom-likeJuvenilepolypsoccurinchildrenassinglehamartomasthathaveaverylowriskoflongtermproblems.Adultscandevelopharmlessjuvenilepolypsaswell,butcanalsodevelopadenomaswhicharethoughttorepresenttheearlystagesofcoloncancer.Adenomascanbefoundinchildrenandindicateaneedforfurtherevaluationasdescribedbelow.Ifanadenomaisremoved,thecancerriskiseliminated.ForthisreasonTheNationalCancerInstitutesuggeststhatalladultsshouldundergoascreeningexaminationoftheircolon,calledacolonoscopy,beginningattheageof50toremoveandstudyanypolypsthatmaybepresent.HowCommonarePolypsinChildren?Apolypofthecolonorlargeintestineoccursinabout1-2%ofchildren.Themostcommontypeofpolypinchildrenisahamartomaorjuvenilepolypaccountingformorethan95%ofpolypsfound.Juvenilepolypsaretypicallyfoundin2to6yearoldboysandgirlsbutcanbefoundinyoungerandolderchildrenuptoabout10yearsofage.Mostharmlesspolypsaresingleandarefoundinthebottomonethirdtoonehalfoftheco