Two of a kind: analyzing juvenile polyps in a 5-year-old boy

Background. Juvenile polyps are most common benign lesions of the gastrointestinal tract predominantly affecting children. Occasionally, they can also be found in adults. These polyps belong to the group of hamartomatous polyps. Sporadic juvenile polyps generally occur singly, most common in the rectum, and are the leading cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in children. Case report. Here, we present a case of 5-year-old male child with the complaints of constipation for past 2 months and bleeding per rectum for past month. After a polypectomy, he was diagnosed with two synchronous non syndromic juvenile polyps which is not very common as most cases will present with either a solitary or multiple polyps (usually more than five in number). Conclusions. This article discusses the clinical presentation, histopathological features, pathogenesis, molecular alterations, prognosis and recent diagnostic advances of the juvenile polyps. Despite their innocuous nature, understanding their pathological characteristics is crucial for their timely diagnosis, management and for predicting clinical outcomes. Even with a lower risk of malignancy, regular surveillance is of utmost importance in case of patients with more than one juvenile polyp due to the increased risk of recurrence and neoplastic transformation.