Clinical, Endoscopic, Histological, and Therapeutic Aspects of Gastric Polyps at the Sikasso Regional Hospital, Mali: A Study of 39 Cases

Introduction: Gastric polyps are tissue lesions that develop within the gastric lumen. Their clinical, endoscopic, histopathological, and therapeutic features remain variable and poorly described in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to characterize these aspects in patients at Sikasso Regional Hospital, Mali. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study over an eight-year period (2017–2024) including all histologically confirmed gastric polyps. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: A total of 39 patients were included (24 men, 15 women; sex ratio 1.6), with a mean age of 52 years (range: 15–87). Polyps were sessile in 71% and pedunculated in 29% of cases. Lesions were single in 51% and multiple in 49%, most frequently located in the antrum. The mean polyp size was 6.2 mm (range: 2–29 mm). Histologically, hyperplastic polyps were observed in 30.8%, adenomatous in 23.7%, fibro-inflammatory in 15.4%, juvenile in 12.8%, fundic gland in 12.8%, and papillomatous in 10.3%. <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection was present in 35.9% of cases, with 15.4% showing associated gastritis. Mean follow-up duration of patients was 31 months. Conclusion: This study provided valuable insights into gastric polyps in the population of Sikasso, highlighting the diversity of their clinical and endoscopic characteristics. <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection remains endemic in this setting and is often chronic, frequently evolving asymptomatically while potentially leading to significant gastric lesions. These findings emphasize the importance of strengthening preventive strategies, including public awareness on screening, early management, and regular surveillance of patients with gastric polyps.