A polyp is a growth of tissue that projects from the wall of a hollow space, such as the intestines.
Some polyps are caused by hereditary conditions.
Bleeding from the rectum is the most common symptom.
Some polyps become cancerous (malignant) (see Colorectal Cancer).
A colonoscopy is done to make the diagnosis.
Removal of the polyp during colonoscopy is the best form of treatment.
Polyps that grow on the intestinal or rectal wall protrude into the intestine or rectum and may be noncancerous (benign), precancerous (adenomatous), or cancerous (malignant carcinoma).
Polyps vary considerably in size, and the bigger the polyp, the greater the risk that it is cancerous or likely to become cancerous (that is, they are precancerous).
Polyps may grow with or without a stalk (a thin piece of tissue that joins the polyp to the intestinal wall, similar to how the neck joins the head to the body).
There are many types of polyps but doctors typically divide them into
Adenomatous polyps
Nonadenomatous polyps
Adenomatous polyps, which consist primarily of glandular cells that line the inside of the large intestine, are likely precancerous.
Nonadenomatous polyps can develop from many cell types, including the nonglandular cells that line the intestine, fat cells, and muscle cells. Some nonadenomatous polyps are caused by other disorders, for example the inflammatory polyps that develop in people with chronic ulcerative colitis. Nonadenomatous polyps are less likely to be precancerous.
Hereditary conditions that cause intestinal polyps
Some polyps are the result of hereditary conditions, such as familial adenomatous polyposis, MUTYH polyposis syndrome, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
In Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, people have many small polyps in the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. They also have numerous bluish black spots on their face, inside their mouth, and on their hands and feet. The spots tend to fade by puberty except for those inside the mouth.
People with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome have an increased risk of developing cancer in many organs, particularly the pancreas, stomach, small intestine, colon, breast, lung, testes, ovaries, and uterus.
© Springer Science+Business Media
© Springer Science+Business Media
© Springer Science+Business Media
© Springer Science+Business Media
© Springer Science+Business Media
© Springer Science+Business Media
© Springer Science+Business Media
© Springer Science+Business Media
Symptoms of Colorectal Polyps
Most polyps do not cause symptoms. When they do, the most common symptom is bleeding from the rectum.
A large polyp may cause cramps, abdominal pain, obstruction, or intussusception (one segment of the intestine slides into another, much like the parts of a telescope). Large polyps with tiny fingerlike projections that can be seen only with a microscope (called villous adenomas) may excrete water and salts, causing excessive watery diarrhea that may result in low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia).
Occasionally, a rectal polyp on a long stalk drops down and dangles through the anus.
Diagnosis of Colorectal Polyps
For polyps, colonoscopy
For Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, genetic testing
A doctor may be able to feel polyps by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum, but usually polyps are discovered when colonoscopy is done to examine the entire large intestine. This complete and reliable examination is done because more than one polyp is often present and any may be cancerous.
During colonoscopy, any polyps seen are removed and evaluated for possible cancer.
Monitoring of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
People who have bluish black spots on their lips or in their mouth and/or have 2 or more polyps in their digestive tract or a family history of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome should have a blood test to determine whether they have the gene mutations that cause this disorder.
Once people are diagnosed with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, doctors recommend they have regular tests to detect the various cancers that can develop with this disorder.
Treatment of Colorectal Polyps
Removal during colonoscopy or sometimes surgery
Doctors generally recommend removing all polyps from the large intestine and rectum because of their potential to become cancerous. Doctors remove polyps during a colonoscopy procedure using the biopsy forceps or by using an electrified wire loop (snare). If a polyp cannot be removed during colonoscopy, abdominal surgery may be needed.
If a polyp is found to be cancerous, need for additional treatment depends on whether the cancer is likely to have spread. The risk of spread is determined by microscopic examination of the polyp. If the risk is low, no further treatment is necessary. If the risk is high, the affected segment of the large intestine is removed surgically, and the cut ends of the intestine are rejoined (see also treatment of colorectal cancer).
When a person has a polyp removed, doctors do colonoscopy to examine the entire large intestine and rectum. Follow-up colonoscopies are done at different intervals depending on many factors including the number, size, and type of the polyps. If colonoscopy cannot be done, a barium enema x-ray or computed tomography (CT) colonography may be done to view the large intestine.
