A colon polyp is a protrusion from the lining of the large intestine (colon) caused by an abnormally rapid growth of cells. It may be a small raised area, look like a mushroom, or lie flat like a piece of shag rug carpet.

 

What are the symptoms of polyps?   Most polyps cause no symptoms. Sometimes they bleed easily and the blood can be seen mixed with the stool or on the surface. A polyp may also secrete clear mucous which is passed with the stool.

 

How do you treat a polyp?     When polyps are detected, they are removed painlessly during your colonoscopy. When  using a colonoscope, a wire loop or “snare” is maneuvered down the scope, out the end, and around the polyp. The snare is tightened around the base of the polyp, and the polyp is removed from the bowel wall using a small electric current. Very small polyps are simply removed by pinch biopsy. The polyp tissue is retrieved for testing.

 

Occasionally, for especially large polyps, an operation is necessary for their safe removal.

 

What happens after removal of a polyp?  The tissue removed will be examined by a pathologist using a microscope. The microscopic appearance will help decide whether the polyp has been removed completely and what kind of polyp it is.

 

There are two main types of polyps: benign and pre-cancerous.

 

Benign polyps (like “hyperplastic” or “juvenile”) do not develop into cancer. If you have this kind of polyp, often no further treatment or follow up is necessary. Repeat colonoscopy is routinely performed in ten years.

 

There are other colon polyps which carry a risk of becoming cancerous. This kind of polyp is called an “adenoma”. It has a risk of becoming a cancer over a ten to twelve year span. If an adenoma was present and was fully removed at colonoscopy, no further treatment at this time is necessary. After complete removal of an adenoma there is a risk of developing new adenomas, so you will need repeated colonoscopies. We currently recommend a repeat colonoscopy every three to five years after removal of an adenomatous polyp.

 

Occasionally the microscopic analysis of the polyp will suggest that there is a risk that the polyp was not completely removed, or had cancerous cells within it. A second colonoscopy or even an operation may then be needed to try to ensure that the abnormal tissue is completely removed.                                 

 

Why Do We

Look For

Colon Polyps?
Text Box: Colon cancer is our second most common cancer. It attacks men and women equally. Most colon cancers start as polyps, and take 10 to 12 years to grow.

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Text Box: Medical Disclaimer Content provided on this website or in answering your questions about colonoscopy are for general information and educational use only. It is not intended to be used as medical advice in specific situations. The information is not to be considered complete, nor does it contain all relevant medical information. It is not to be used as a substitute for seeking medical treatment or appropriate care. If you do have an emergency, call 911 or your local physician by telephone immediately.