American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What type of polyps are typically associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome?

1. Inflammatory polyps

2. Hyperplastic polyps

3. Hamartomatous polyps

4. Adenomatous polyps

The correct answer is: Hamartomatous polyps

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is characterized by the presence of hamartomatous polyps, which are the type of polyps associated with this genetic condition. Hamartomatous polyps are benign growths that arise from a disorganized mixture of tissue elements that are normally present in the affected area but are arranged in an abnormal manner. In Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, these polyps typically occur throughout the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in the small intestine but can also be found in the stomach and colon. The presence of these polyps is significant not only for their benign nature but also because individuals with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer, particularly gastrointestinal and reproductive cancers. Therefore, the identification of hamartomatous polyps in these patients is crucial for ongoing surveillance and management to prevent malignant progression. In contrast, other types of polyps such as inflammatory, hyperplastic, and adenomatous polyps do not specifically correlate with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Inflammatory polyps tend to arise as a result of inflammation, hyperplastic polyps generally do not carry cancer risk and are often associated with benign conditions in the bowel, while adenomatous polyps are precursors