BOWEL POLYPS

Bowel polyps are tiny growths on the colon’s inner lining (large bowel) or the rectum caused by a bacterial infection. Bowel polyps are highly prevalent, affecting approximately one in every four people over 50. These conditions are most likely more prevalent in males than females. Some people develop only one polyp, whereas others may set several polyps.

TYPES 

  • Sessile polyps are small raised areas or bulges that form on the skin’s surface.
  • A pedunculated polyp is a polyp that looks like a grape on a stalk.
  • Some appear as a swarm of tiny bumps grouped around each other.

Bowel polyps are not typically cancerous, but if they are revealed, they must be removed immediately because some will probably develop into cancer if they remain untreated for an extended period.

SYMPTOMS

Most people who have polyps will not be aware of them because they do not exhibit any symptoms and are frequently discovered by chance.

Some larger polyps, on the other hand, can cause:

  • Rectal bleeding in a minor amount (blood in your stool)
  • When you open your bowels, mucus is produced.
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Stomach ache

DIAGNOSIS

In order to see whether you have bowel polyps or not, your doctor will look at your symptoms and ask for your medical history. Afterwards, he/she may conduct the following tests in order to diagnose your condition properly:

  • Sigmoidoscopy 
  • Bowel cancer screening procedure.
  • Colonoscopy
  • CT colonography

TREATMENT

Polyps can be treated in various ways, the most common of which is to snare the polyp during a colonoscopy. Snaring is a painless procedure similar to removing a polyp with cheese wire.

Both procedures entail the insertion of a flexible piece of technology known as a colonoscope through your bottom and up into the bowel. Electric current is applied to the colonoscope’s polyp to cauterize (burn-off) or snare it.

Bowel polyps may involve surgical resection of a part of the bowel in infrequent circumstances. It is usually reserved for polyps with some cell changes or is quite large.

After the polyps have been eliminated, they will be sent to laboratory experts, who will notify your consultant if:

  • The polyp has been eliminated;
  • There is a chance that it will reappear again; and
  • There is any evidence of a cancerous transition in the polyp.

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