Although polyposis of the large intestine is generally considered a disease of children and young adults, there is little reference to the subject in pediatric literature. This, no doubt, is accounted for by the rarity of the condition, only a few cases in patients less than 14 years of age having been observed, and by the fact that the more refined proctoscopic and roentgenologic methods of diagnosis have not been generally employed.
The subject of single and multiple polyps of the colon and rectum has received considerable attention from those interested in proctology and the clinical and surgical aspects of enterology. The present opinion seems to be that single polyps or polyps that occur in small numbers are of relatively common occurrence and differ from those making up the picture of generalized, disseminated polyposis which occurs relatively rarely.
In 1895, von Port1 reviewed fourteen cases of diffuse polyposis; in