OBJECTIVE To study the clinicopathologic characteristics, changes in the nature and incidence of colorectal polyps in the Nanchang area, Jiangxi, Province. METHODS We retrospectively investigated the patients with colorectal polyps who were diagnosed by colonoscopy and pathology in our hospital from 1990 to 2004. The analysis involved the incidence, average patient age, polyp location and pathological types. We recorded the changes of the polyp clinicopathologic features by comparing the clinicopathologic types of colorectal polyps over fi ve-year periods. RESULTS Of the 21,853 patients who received a colonoscopy, 2,889(13.2%) were diagnosed with colorectal polyps. Their average age was 46.6±16.5 years, with a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. The males were older than females (47.1±17.5 vs. 45.5±14.5, P<0.05). Location of the polyps: 41% in the rectum, 27.7% in the sigmoid colon, 35.8% in the left side verus 23.1% in the right side (P<0.05). Patients with polyps located in the transverse and ascending colon were older than those with polyps in the rectum and sigmoid colon (P<0.05). Adenomatous polyps comprised the most common type (67%) and the rectum was the most common site for each type, especially juvenile and retention polyps. Juvenile polyps were found in the youngest patients(12±4.8, P<0.05) and the adenomatous in the oldest (52±14, P<0.05). The ratio of patients with polyposis comprised 1.2%, and patients with polyps accompanied with colorectal cancer comprised 6.1%. Examination of the changes in the incidence, the average patient age, and adenomatous type showed that they had all increased, but the frequency of infl ammatory and retention polyps decreased. CONCLUSION Colorectal polyps are a common problem. The frequency is greater in males compared to females and the rectum and sigmoid colon had the highest incidence. Most juvenile and retention polyps were found in young patients, but most adenomatous occurred in adults. In recent years, the incidence of colorectal polyps, the average patient age, and the adenomatous type have increased in the Nanchang area, but inflammatory and retention types decreased. OBJECTIVE To study the clinicopathologic characteristics, changes in the nature and incidence of colorectal polyps in the Nanchang area, Jiangxi, Province. METHODS We retrospectively investigated the patients with colorectal polyps who were diagnosed by colonoscopy and pathology in our hospital from 1990 to 2004. The analysis involved the incidence, average patient age, polyp location and pathological types. We recorded the changes of the polyp clinicopathologic features by comparing the clinicopathologic types of colorectal polyps over fi ve-year periods. RESULTS Of the 21,853 patients who received a colonoscopy, 2,889 (13.2%) were diagnosed with colorectal polyps. Their average age was 46.6 ± 16.5 years with a male to female ratio of 1.8: 1. The males were older than females (47.1 ± 17.5 vs. 45.5 ± 14.5, P <0.05) . Location of the polyps: 41% in the rectum, 27.7% in the sigmoid colon, 35.8% in the left side verus 23.1% in the right side (P <0.05). Patients with polyps located in the transve rse and ascending colon were older than those with polyps in the rectum and sigmoid colon (P <0.05). Adenomatous polyps was the most common type (67%) and the rectum was the most common site for each type, especially juvenile and retention polyps . Juvenile polyps were found in the youngest patients (12 ± 4.8, P <0.05) and the adenomatous in the oldest (52 ± 14, P <0.05). The ratio of patients with polyposiscted 1.2%, and patients with polyps accompanied with colorectal cancer comprised 6.1%. Examination of the changes in the incidence, the average patient age, and adenomatous type showed that they had all increased, but the frequency of infl ammatory and retention polyps decreased. CONCLUSION Colorectal polyps are a common problem. is greater in males compared to females and the rectum and sigmoid colon had the highest incidence. Most juvenile and retention polyps were found in young patients, but most adenomatous occurred in adults. In recent years, the incidence o f colorectal polyps, the average patient age, and the adenomatous type have increased in the Nanchang area, but inflammatory and retention types decreased.