POLYP - WatsonsHealth

POLYP

Polyps are bumps or lumps of skin that may be flat or raised or may or may not have stalks. Most polyps do not exceed half an inch in size. Many parts of the body are prone to developing polyps. They are usually removed when they pose a risk to health.

Polyps in the colon are the most widely recognized, but at the same time it’s also possible to have polyps in places such as the following:

  • Ear canal
  • cervix
  • stomach
  • nose
  • Uterus
  • Throat

Most polyps are benign, which means they’re noncancerous. But since they are due to unusual cell growth, they can end up cancerous or even malignant. Your doctor can help decide whether the development is a polyp by doing a biopsy. A biopsy enables your doctor to take sample and look for the presence of cancer cells.

Treatment for polyps relies upon their area, size, and whether they’re benign or malignant.

Each type of polyp can cause symptoms based on their area. The following are some polyp types, their areas, and symptoms:

  • Aural polyps are located in the ear canal and can cause loss of hearing and blood drainage from the ear.
  • Cervical polyps are located in the cervix. This is the area between the uterus and the vaginal canal. It can give rise to vaginal bleeding.
  • Colorectal polyps are found in the large intestine, colon, and rectum and has symptoms of blood in stool, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea.
  • Nasal polyps are found in the nose or near sinuses and have symptoms similar to the common cold such as headache, nose pain, and loss of smell.
  • Gastric polyps are found in the stomach and stomach lining and may cause symptoms such as nausea, pain, tenderness, vomiting, and bleeding.
  • Endometrial polyps are those found in the inner lining of the uterus and can cause vaginal bleeding.
  • Vocal cord polyps affect the vocal cords and can give rise to a hoarse voice or sore throat.
  • Bladder polyps affect the bladder lining and can show itself as blood in the urine, painful urination, and frequent urination.

Most colon polyps are not harmful and don’t cause symptoms in the early stages. They can also develop into cancer.

DIAGNOSIS

Your doctor will do a physical exam and obtain a medical history. Then they may request for imaging studies like X-rays, ultrasound, or a CT scan to observe for the polyp’s characteristics and activity.

When you have a polyp, your doctor might need to do a biopsy. This is to check whether the lump is cancerous or not.

Other tests may include the following, depending on where the polyps may be found:

  • Pap test for vagina or cervical polyps
  • Endoscopy for the stomach and other parts of the gastrointestinal system
  • A colonoscopy for polyps situated in the large bowel

 

TREATMENT

A few polyps won’t require treatment, particularly if your doctor says they aren’t cancerous. Throat polyps can disappear with rest and voice treatment. As for other polyps, you doctor may remove them when they have a risk for cancer.

Treatment for polyps relies upon the following:

  • Whether there are cancer cells in the polyp
  • How many polyps are there
  • Location
  • Size

In colorectal polyps, a doctor may expel the polyps during a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is the process at which your doctor inserts a tube with a camera to view your colon.

Your doctor may recommend hormonal treatment like progesterone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists for polyps found in the reproductive system. These medications will advise your body to make more hormones to contract or decrease the polyps.

Steroid tablets or sprays may treat nasal polyps.

Your doctor will utilize the safest treatment before selecting careful interventions.

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