Those who regularly have a colonoscopy are familiar with the term polyp. They understand that they are small growths on the inside of the colon or rectum. They have several shapes and can be numerous, but having a polyp does not mean you have cancer. However, colon polyp size, shape, and growth pattern affects cancer risk.
Find Them, Remove Them
The goal of a colonoscopy is to find polyps, no matter its size, and remove it. If they are removed, they cannot grow and develop into cancer. That is the reason we have screenings for colon cancer like colonoscopy. You eliminate the risk.
It’s also the reason why a colonoscopy screening is performed every few years depending on the patient’s risk factors. Find them, remove them.
The big question is can Colorectal Wellness Center determine whether certain polyps are more likely to turn into cancer by their size and shape?
With Colon Polyps, Size Does Matter
The smaller a polyp is, the less likely it will become cancerous. They can grow quite slowly, and that’s the reason why screening tests are so important.
Hyperplastic polyps are small, very common, and are low risk.
Shape Matters Too
Pedunculated polyps hang on stalks. They are easily found and removed, and cancer can grow in the head.
Sessile polyps appear like a dome and are more flat.
Flat polyps are difficult to find and remove.
Adenomatous Polyps
There are three types of adenoma polyps based upon their appearance under the microscope:
- Villous adenomas have the highest risk of becoming cancerous. They spread out like a fan shape.
- Tubular adenomas are smaller, look like little tubes, and are less likely to become cancerous.
- Tubulovillous adenomas polyps are a mix of villous and tubular.
Serrated Polyps
They appear like saw teeth under a microscope, and about 25% of these polyps become cancerous.
Inflammatory Polyps
This kind of polyp is common in people who have inflammatory bowel disease, but they are not dangerous. They are also known as pseudopolyps and are a result of the inflammation in the colon.
Talk with Colorectal Wellness Center about the types and size of the polyps removed during your last colonoscopy. Starting at age 45 everyone should be having regular screenings for colorectal cancer. If you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps (and even some other cancers) you may have to start even earlier.
Schedule a Colon Polyp Consultation in Fayetteville, GA
Contact Dr. Erin King-Mullins at (770) 325-2275 to schedule your colorectal cancer screening in Fayetteville, GA.
Sources:
Colon and Rectal Polyps | Michigan Medicine (uofmhealth.org)
Patient education: Colon polyps (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate
Colon Polyp Type May Be Key to Cancer Risk (webmd.com)
Colon Polyps: Symptoms, Pictures, Types, Causes, & Treatment (medicinenet.com)