Colon polyps are fleshy growths which occur on the lining of the large intestine that have the potential to become cancerous. According to a new study in the September 24, 2008 issues of the Journal of the American Medical Association, black men and women are more likely than their white counterparts to have at least 1 colon polyp.

Compared with white individuals, black men and women are more likely to be diagnosed with and die from colon cancer. Researchers from the Portland Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center evaluated the screening colonoscopy results of 80,061 white patients and 5,464 black patients who reported no symptoms concerning for colon cancer. They found that black women were 62% more likely than white women to have 1 or more polyps greater than 9 millimeters in diameter on colonoscopy. Black men were 16% more likely than white men to have polyps.

The results of this study have important implications for colorectal cancer screening recommendations. The increased risk of colon polyps among asymptomatic black patients emphasizes the importance of timely colorectal cancer screening, particularly among black women.