Prevalence and predictors of colon polyps in patients with skin tags: A cross sectional study

Background: Acrochordons (fibroepithelial polyps, skin tags, papillomas) are common benign neoplasms of the skin.

Aim: To identify the prevalence of colonic polyps among patients presenting with skin tags and to determine a useful criteria for screening with colonoscopy.

Methods: Two hundred patients who fulfilled the selection criteria underwent physical, biochemical evaluation (fasting blood sugar (FBS), body mass index (BMI) calculation, occult blood in stool), and histopathological examination of the skin tags. Colonoscopy was performed in patients with positive blood in stool, and any polyps identified were resected or biopsied.

Results: Occult blood in stool was insignificantly detected in 12 (6%) of the 200 subjects (p < 0.001), and they were referred for colonoscopy. A prevalence rate of 3.5% was reported, and of twelve colonoscopies performed, three patients were polyp-free, two were diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), and seven patients were diagnosed with polyps that were removed and/or biopsied (p = 0.421). Of the seven polyps, three were hemorrhoidal polyps and the four other polyps were adenomatous polyps (villous adenoma).

Conclusion: The mere presence of skin tags does not significantly correlate with existence of colonic polyps and does not justify screening colonoscopy unless other metabolic, GIT, and biochemical markers are identified.