Colon polyps are the growths on the lining of your colon or large intestine, a part of the digestive tract. Most of them aren’t dangerous. However, some can become colon cancer over the years. Because of this, the doctor suggests taking out any colon polyps from the body.
Table Of Contents
- What are the causes of Colon polyps?
- What are the symptoms of Colon polyps?
- Types of Polyps
- How are Colon Polyps diagnosed and treated?
What are the causes of Colon polyps?
Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly manner. Mutations in some genes can cause cells to continue dividing even when new cells aren’t required. Within the colon and rectum, this unregulated increase can cause polyps to shape. Polyps can develop anywhere in the large intestine. Other risk factors comprise age above 50, obesity, lack of exercise, fat intake, smoking, excessive use of alcohol, and people with a family history of this disorder.
What are the symptoms of Colon polyps?
Most colon polyps do not have any symptoms; that’s the reason screening is suggested. But, while symptoms do arise, they include:
- Rectal bleeding – Bleeding from the rectum, which can be visible with the naked eye or detected microscopically through a fecal blood test or a fecal blood test blended with a genetic stool check.
- Stool color change -Blood can display up as red streaks in the stool or make stool appear black. A change in color can also be because of certain foods, medicines, or dietary supplements.
- Change in bowel habits – Constipation or diarrhea that lasts longer than every week may additionally imply a larger colon polyp. But several other situations can also reason changes in bowel conduct.
- Abdomen Pain – A colon polyp can partially hinder your bowel, causing pain in the abdomen.
- Iron deficiency or anemia – Bleeding from polyps can occur slowly over time, without being seen blood in the stool. Persistent bleeding robs the body of the iron needed to produce the substance that lets red blood cells carry oxygen to the body. The result is iron-deficiency anemia, which can make the person feel tired and breathless.
Types of Polyps
Polyps can be broadly classified into two types:
- Adenoma- Most colon cancers start to develop as this kind, although not all adenomas become harmful. Underneath a microscope, adenomas look distinctive, primarily based on how they grow. In standard, the larger an adenoma, the more likely it is to turn out to be cancer.
- Hyperplastic- This type is unlikely to become cancer.
How are Colon Polyps diagnosed and treated?
Screening tests play a key function in detecting polyps before they turn cancerous. These exams also can help locate colorectal cancer in its early stages. Screening and testing methods include:
Colonoscopy – A method wherein a long, thin, flexible tube is passed through the rectum into the large intestine. The tube has a camera at its end, shows images on a display screen, and permits polyps to be removed or to take tissue samples (biopsies) for evaluation.
Virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography) – This is a minimally invasive test that makes use of a CT scan to view the colon. Virtual colonoscopy calls for identical bowel preparation as a colonoscopy. If a polyp is discovered during the CT scan, a colonoscopy needs to be performed to have the polyp examined and eliminated.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy – In this test, a thin tube with a light and camera is inserted into the rectum to examine the closing part of the colon (sigmoid) and rectum. When a polyp is identified, a doctor can remove it.
Stool-based tests – This type of test looks for blood inside the stool or assesses stool DNA for proof of a colon polyp or most cancers. In case your stool check is positive, a colonoscopy would be done quickly afterward.
