Know your polyps Not all polyps are alike. Here are the five most common types of colon and rectal polyps:. What are complex polyps? Digestive GI Conditions. Most polyps are noncancerous, or benign. However, some polyps can develop to become malignant, or cancerous. For this reason, a surgeon may remove them when detected. Polyps often cause no symptoms. In many cases, a doctor only identifies polyps during a medical exam or colonoscopy. Polyps can form in different shapes.
People may refer to these shapes as flat, or sessile, or with a stalk, also known as pedunculated. Some polyps grow flat and project outward from a broad base. Others can be depressed, or project inward into the colon or rectum lining. Doctors refer to these as sessile polyps. Pedunculated polyps, on the other hand, may appear raised, projecting out into the hollow center of the colon or rectum.
They may grow in the shape of a small cauliflower or mushroom suspended from a stalk or base. There are several types of colon polyps that a doctor can see using a microscope. Some examples include :. Tubular are the most common type of colon polyps. Tubular adenomas are typically small pedunculated polyps, less than half an inch in size. They usually have a tube-like or rounded shape. Tubular adenomas generally take years to form.
Typically, the larger the polyp, the greater the risk it may become cancerous. Villous adenomas are generally larger pedunculated polyps and grow in a cauliflower-like shape. Villous adenomas are more likely to become cancerous.
Some polyps, called tubulovillous, contain a mixture of tubular and villous growth. These polyps contain tissues with a sawtooth look. There are two types : sessile serrated adenomas and traditional serrated adenomas. Colon polyps often don't cause symptoms. It's important to have regular screening tests, such as a colonoscopy, because colon polyps found in the early stages can usually be removed safely and completely.
The best prevention for colon cancer is regular screening for and removal of polyps. Because most people with colon polyps do not experience any symptoms, you might not know you have a polyp until your doctor finds it during an examination of your colon. There is a problem with information submitted for this request.
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Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly way. Mutations in certain genes can cause cells to continue dividing even when new cells aren't needed. In the colon and rectum, this unregulated growth can cause polyps to form. Endometrial polyps develop in the uterus. They happen when parts of the endometrial glands grow too large and protrude from the lining of the endometrium. Doctors do not know exactly why this happens, but high estrogen levels appear to be a factor. Causes of throat polyps include :.
Nasal polyps are often triggered by inflammation, possibly due to a fungal or bacterial infection or an allergic reaction. They can also occur with an underlying condition, such as cystic fibrosis, or refractory nasal polyposis, which affects the sinuses. Polyps grow through rapidly dividing cells, which is similar to how cancer cells grow.
This is why they can become cancerous, even though most polyps are benign. People who regularly stress their vocal cords or have acid reflux have a higher risk of throat polyps.
But there are no known risk factors for aural polyps. Men and people who smoke have a higher risk of bladder polyps. Bladder polyps are rare, and there is little evidence to show why they happen.
However, the bladder has nicotine receptors, which means there is a higher chance of changes occurring in bladder cells. This can increase the risk of cancer due to smoking. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk of polyps if you are concerned about a specific type. Risk factors for colon polyps include :. Black people have a higher occurrence of polyps than white people at a younger age, according to research published in The study authors called for screening to begin at age 45 for Black Americans rather than the current guideline of 50 years.
Black Americans also have a higher rate of and a 35 percent greater chance of dying from colorectal cancer than white Americans according to a article published in The American Journal of Pathology. More research is needed to find out why this is so, but socioeconomic factors are likely to play a role. Since some polyps can become cancerous, earlier screening could help reduce this risk. You are more likely to develop cervical polyps if you:.
You may be more likely to develop vocal cord polyps if you:. People who have high levels of cholesterol or bile salts in their bile can develop structures that resemble polyps but are actually clumps of cholesterol that form on the gallbladder wall. They may appear before or alongside gallstones.
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