Human pathology
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The clinicopathologic features of nine patients with inflammatory polyps of the anorectal transition zone (inflammatory cloacogenic polyp, ICP) were reviewed. All polyps were characterized histologically by crypt hyperplasia and a thickened muscularis mucosa arising beneath a surface epithelium consisting of variable proportions of squamous, columnar, and often transitional epithelium. Tubulovillous architecture was characteristic. ⋯ Papillomavirus was demonstrated by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods in one case in which multiple foci of dysplasia were also noted. Two patients had Crohn's disease, and the remaining patient had a coexistent adenocarcinoma located several centimeters proximal to his ICP. The pathologist and clinician must be aware that although ICP is often associated with SRUS/mucosal prolapse, it may occur in other clinical settings.