polyp

 

in medicine, a benign tumor occurring in areas lined with mucous membrane such as the nose, gastrointestinal tract (especially the colon), and the uterus. Some polyps are pedunculated tumors, i.e., they grow on stems; others, attached by a broad base, are called sessile. Nasal polyps are usually associated with an allergic condition; since they interfere with breathing, it is advisable that they be removed. Uterine and gastrointestinal polyps are likely to cause bleeding, but, more important, they may undergo malignant degeneration and for this reason are also usually removed.

Colon polyps
Classification & external resources

Polyp of sigmoid colon as revealed by colonoscopy. Approximately 1 cm in diameter. The polyp was removed by snare cautery
ICD-10	K63.5 & various
MedlinePlus	000266
eMedicine	med/414
MeSH	C23.300.825

A polyp is an abnormal growth of tissue (tumor) projecting from a mucous membrane. If it is attached to the surface by a narrow elongated stalk it is said to be pedunculated. If no stalk is present it is said to be sessile. Polyps are commonly found in the colon, stomach, nose, sinus(es), urinary bladder and uterus. They may also occur elsewhere in the body where mucous membranes exist like the cervix^[1] and small intestine.

Colon polyps

Colon polyps are uncommonly associated with symptoms. Occasionally rectal bleeding, and on rare occasions pain, diarrhea or constipation may occur because of colon polyps. Colon polyps are a concern because of the potential for colon cancer being present microscopically and the risk of benign colon polyps transforming with time into colon cancer. Since most polyps are asymptomatic, they are usually discovered at the time of colon cancer screening with either digital rectal exam (DRE), flexible sigmoidoscopy, Barium enema, colonoscopy or virtual colonoscopy. The polyps are routinely removed at the time of colonoscopy either with a polypectomy snare (P.Deyhle, 1970) or with biopsy forceps. If an adenomatous polyp is found with flexible sigmoidoscopy or if a polyp is found with any other diagnostic modality, the patient must undergo colonoscopy for removal of the polyp(s). Even though colon cancer is usually not found in polyps smaller than 2.5 cm, all polyps found are removed since the removal of polyps reduces the future likelihood of developing colon cancer. When adenomatous polyps are removed, a repeat colonoscopy is usually performed in three to five years.

Most colon polyps can be categorized as sporadic.

Inherited Polyposis Syndromes

• Familial adenomatous polyposis
• Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
• Familial polyposis coli
• Turcot syndrome
• Juvenile polyposis syndrome
• Cowden disease
• Ruval-Caba-Myhre-Smith syndrome

Non-inherited Polyposis Syndromes

• Cronkhite-Canada disease

Types of colon polyps

• malignant polyp
• Adenomatous
• Hamartomatous
• Hyperplastic
• Inflammatory

See also

• Nasal polyp
• Uterine polyp

Footnotes

1. ^ Weschler, Toni (2002). Taking Charge of Your Fertility, Revised Edition, New York: HarperCollins, pp.227-228,330. ISBN 0-06-093764-5. 

External links

• ASGE Website dedicated to colon cancer awareness and early detection.
• ASGE Website educating the public about endoscopy.
• National Institutes of Health polyp website
• Thorough review of polyposis syndromes by Dr. Ali Nawaz Khan with CME available
• Explanation of colon polyps and colon cancer in lay terms.

Digestive system - Gastroenterology (primarily K20-K93, 530-579)
Esophagus	GERD - Achalasia - Boerhaave syndrome - Zenker's diverticulum - Mallory-Weiss syndrome - Barrett's esophagus
Stomach	Gastric ulcer - Gastritis - Dyspepsia - Pyloric stenosis - Achlorhydria - Gastroptosis - Gastroparesis
Small intestine	Duodenal ulcer - Intussusception - Abdominal angina
Colon	Diarrhea - Appendicitis - Bowel obstruction - Diverticulitis - Diverticulosis - IBD (Crohn's, Ulcerative colitis) - IBS - Constipation - Megacolon (Toxic megacolon) - Anal fissure - Anal fistula - Anal abscess - Rectal prolapse
Hernia	Inguinal (Indirect, Direct) - Femoral - Umbilical - Incisional - Diaphragmatic - Hiatus
Liver	Alcoholic liver disease - Cholestasis (Mirizzi's syndrome) - Liver failure - Cirrhosis - Hepatitis - PBC - NASH - Fatty liver - Peliosis hepatis - Portal hypertension - Hepatorenal syndrome - Budd-Chiari
Accessory digestive	Gallbladder/Biliary tree (Gallstones, Choledocholithiasis, Cholecystitis, Cholesterolosis, Cholangitis, PSC, Biliary fistula, Ascending cholangitis) Pancreas (Acute pancreatitis, Chronic pancreatitis, Pancreatic pseudocyst, Hereditary pancreatitis)
Other/general	Malabsorption (e.g. celiac, Whipple's) - Tropical sprue - Hematemesis - Melena - Gastrointestinal bleeding (Upper, Lower) - Peritonitis
See also congenital

Pathology: Tumors, neoplasia, and oncology (C00-D48, 140-239)
Benign tumors	Hyperplasia - Cyst - Pseudocyst - Hamartoma - Benign neoplasm
Malignant progression	Dysplasia - Carcinoma in situ - Invasive cancer - Metastasis
Topography	Anus - Bladder - Blood - Bile duct - Bone - Brain - Breast - Cervix - Colon/rectum - Endometrium - Esophagus - Eye - Gallbladder - Head/Neck - Liver - Kidney - Larynx - Lung - Mediastinum (chest) - Mouth - Ovaries - Pancreas - Penis - Prostate - Skin - Small intestine - Stomach - Tailbone - Testicles - Thyroid
Misc.	Tumor suppressor genes/oncogenes - Staging/grading - Carcinogenesis - Carcinogen - Research - Paraneoplastic syndrome - List of oncology-related terms

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