Unexplained Abdominal Pain Due to a Juvenile Polyp: A Case Report

The most frequent clinical presentation of a juvenile polyp is painless rectal bleeding. We report a case of a 12-year-old boy who presented with unexplained abdominal pain and difficulty defecating but no rectal bleeding. A digital rectal examination showed no external hemorrhoid, anal fissure or other anal disease. However, a mass with stalk was detected about 5 cm above the anal verge. The mass suddenly exited the anus during the rectal examination and was diagnosed as a hamartomatous juvenile polyp on pathologic examination. Both a detailed patient history and a digital rectal examination might be necessary to evaluate the cause of unexplained abdominal pain and difficulty defecating in children and young people.