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Diagnosis & Treatment of Colon Polyps

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Few colon polyp or colon polyps may turn cancerous. If the polyps are detected early and are removed, the chances of colon cancer are reduced. Before we read more about the diagnosis andtreatment for Colon Polyps, let us understand the risk factors that increase your chance of suffering from Colon Polyps.

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Diagnosis & Treatment of Colon Polyps
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What are the Risks Factors for Colon Polyps?

Risk factors that increase the occurrence of colon polyps are listed below:

  • If a person’s age has exceeded 50 years, the chances of getting colon polyps are increased.
  • Inflammatory intestinal conditions, which includes crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are also a risk factor for getting colon polyps.
  • Family history. A person is more prone to developing colon polyps or even cancer if anyone from the person’s family like parent, sibling have colon polyps. The more the family members are having the disease the risk of having the colon polyps increases. For some patients, this possibility does not apply.
  • More usage of tobacco and alcohol.
  • Being more obese and lack of proper work out.
  • Race. The people being most prone to developing the colon cancer are African Americans.
  • Type 2 diabetes which is not being efficiently managed.

Hereditary Polyp Disorders as Risk Factors for Colon Polyps

Hereditary polyp disorders become significant risk factors for development of colon polyps. Colon polyps formation is rare to the people who inherit genetic mutations. The risk of getting colorectal cancer is high if a person has any one of the following genetic mutations. Early detection and screening helps in the prevention of spread of the cancer or further development.

Hereditary disorders which results to the cause of colon polyps are:

  • Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, which is popularly known as Lynch syndrome. People who are diagnosed with Lynch syndrome tend to develop only a few colon polyps, unexpectedly those polyps can become malignant faster. Lynch syndrome which is linked with tumors in parts such as breast, urinary tract, small intestine, stomach, and ovary is the general form of rooted colon cancer.
  • FAP or Familial adenomatous polyposis, which is developed in a person’s colon lining causes several polyps during a person’s early teenage years and is a rare disorder. There is 100% risk for developing colon cancer when the polyps are not treated, prior to the age of 40. The risk of FAP or Familial adenomatous polyposis can be determined with the help of Genetic testing.
  • Gardner’s syndrome. In gardner’s syndrome colon polyp or colon polyps are developed throughout the small intestine and colon. This syndrome is caused by a variant of familial adenomatous polyposis FAP. Tumors that are noncancerous will also get developed in new parts of a person’s body, including the parts like bones, abdomen and skin.
  • MAP or MYH-associated polyposis. It is a condition that is caused due to the mutation in the gene of MYH. Colon and multiple adenomatous polyps are developed within the persons who are diagnosed with MAP at an early age. Risks of MAP can be determined with the help of Genetic testing.
  • Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a case that normally starts with freckles developing on parts of the person, which includes the feet, gums and lips. The noncancerous polyps will establish all over the intestines. A heavy risk of colon cancer is there in people who have polyps which may become malignant with the above condition.
  • Serrated polyposis syndrome. It is a case that ends with the numerous polyps that are serrated adenomatous in the colon’s upper part. These polyps may turn malignant.

What Tests are Conducted to Diagnose Colon Polyp or Colon Polyps?

A person’s doctor can find the presence of colon polyp or colon polyps by using certain tests or procedures. A physician may also find polyps while testing a person for other similar problems. Screening tests has a vital and important role in finding colon polyp or colon polyps before they turn cancerous. These tests also help in finding the colorectal cancer in initial stages, when there is a good hope for a person’s recovery.

Checking of Medical and Family History for Colon Polyp or Colon Polyps

Taking a medical and family history may help a doctor determine which test is best suitable for the patient.

Physical Exam for Colon Polyp or Colon Polyps

After taking a medical and family history, a person’s doctor will perform a physical exam to help determine which tests are best suited to the patient with colon polyp or colon polyps.

Stool Test to Diagnose Colon Polyp or Colon Polyps

Stool test for colon polyp or colon polyps basically consists of an analysis of the sample of stool being taken for examination. The doctor will be providing a sample kit and procedure of taking over a stool at home. Some test examinations includes changing of diet habits. The instructions of taking over the kit will be provided to a person in advance about where it is to be examined.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Test to Diagnose Colon Polyp or Colon Polyps

Flexible sigmoidoscopy test for colon polyp or colon polyps is a procedure which uses a light and tiny camera over one end of the flexible narrow tube which proves to be great beneficial to examine inner ends of rectum and lower colon.

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CT Colonography or Virtual Colonoscopyto Diagnose Colon Polyp or Colon Polyps

CT colonography or virtual colonoscopy for colon polyp or colon polyps is a minimally nosy test which is done with the help of CT scan will view a person’s colon. Bowel preparation is required for virtual colonoscopy. Colonoscopy helps to remove polyp if diagnosed.

Colonoscopy Test for for Colon Polyp or Colon Polyps

Colonoscopy is the most concisions test for cancer and colorectal polyps. Polyps will be removed by the physician immediately if detected found, or samples are taken for further investigations.

Prevalence of Colon Polyp or Colon Polyps

Colon polyp or colon polyps is highly prevalent and quite common in people by the age of 60, almost among them one-third or even more is detected with at least a single polyp.

What is the Treatment for Colon Polyp or Colon Polyps?

For colon polyps there is no drug therapy that is recommended. To assess potential usage of no steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) more research is needed in order to clarify to understand the reason why they are not preventing cancer development and their process of action in creating colonic polyp regression.

The colon polyps which are discovered in a bowel examination is likely to be removed by the doctor. The removal options included are:

  • Removal of Colon Polyps During Screening: A biopsy a wire loop or forceps that catches the polyp is used to remove most of the polyp, a person can aid the process by injecting a liquid below a polyp to drive it from the wall for the process of elimination. A liquid which may be implanted below it to drive and separate the polyps from the nearby tissue by which it can be eliminated (endoscopic mucosal resection), When a polyp is greater than 2 centimeters.
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery for Colon Polyps: Polyps which are too enormous or those which can’t be safely reached during screening are mostly eliminated using the method of minimally invasive surgery.
  • Colonoscopy to Treat Colon Polyps: Colonoscopy is the most concisions test for cancer and colorectal polyps. Polyps will be removed by the physician immediately if detected. Colonoscopy is one of the procedures which use a long flexible narrow tube which consists of tiny camera over one of its end to look over inside of rectum and colon. This procedure can easily show the irritated and swollen tissues, ulcers, polyps and cancers being grown. It also consists of a specialized tool to remove the polyps.
  • Rectum and Colon Removal: If a person has a unique inherited syndrome, like FAP. To remove a person’s rectum and colon (total protocolectomy) surgery is required.

Certain varieties of colon polyp or colon polyps have high possibilities of becoming malignant than the others. But usually a physician who is specialized in the analysis of tissue samples (pathologist) must test polyp tissue using a microscope to understand whether it can potentially cause cancer.

Follow-up Care for Colon Polyps

Follow-up care is important for colon polyp or colon polyps is mandatory. A person has higher risks of getting colon cancer if a person has had a serrated polyp or an adenomatous polyp. The level of risks depends on factors such as characteristics, number and size of the adenomatous polyp that were eliminated. Follow up screenings are required for polyps. Colonoscopy is likely to be suggested by a person’s doctor if:

  • If a person had one or two minute adenomas within five years.
  • If a person have more number of adenomas, adenomas which is 0.4 inches or greater, or adenomas which has a broad base in less than three years.
  • If a person had greater than 10 adenomas in less than three years.
  • If a person had a huge adenomas or an adenoma which is to be eliminated in pieces within six months.

The full preparation of a person’s colon before colonoscopy is important. If stool debris is in the colon which blocks a person’s doctor’s vision of the wall i.e. colon wall, a person has high possibility of needing a fallout colonoscopy earlier than specified.

References:

  1. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Colon Polyps. Source
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Colorectal (Colon) Cancer. Source
  3. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). (2021). Colon Polyps. Source
  4. WebMD. (2021). Colon Polyps: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. Source

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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:August 10, 2023

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