Colon Polyps
What are "colon polyps"?
Colon polyps are a condition where an abnormal tissue develops and grows in the lining of the large intestine or colon. These polyps are generally benign, meaning they're not cancerous. However, some polyps may have cancer potential which will need to be appropriately treated.
Are colon polyps dangerous?
Colon polyps can be dangerous and should be removed if present. The reason for this removal is that some polyps can have cancerous potential. These polyps especially will need to be removed in order to prevent colon cancer.
Who gets colon polyps?
Anybody and everybody can get colon polyps. They tend to run more in families of people who have had colon polyps or colon cancer, but everybody is at risk of colon polyps and cancer.
What are the symptoms of colon polyps?
Colon polyps generally have no symptoms. If one has polyps, they generally do not know until they have a procedure to evaluate these polyps. Occasionally polyps can cause bleeding from the bowel movements and need to be evaluated right away, but in general polyps have no symptoms whatsoever.
How does a doctor test for polyps?
A doctor can test for colon polyps with a variety of different mechanisms. One modality is an imaging modality called a Barium enema, where a liquid called Barium is instilled by an enema into the large intestine and X-rays are performed, usually by a radiologist, to evaluate the lining of the large intestine and to access the presence of potential polyps. Another modality is through a procedure called a sigmoidoscopy, or a flexible sigmoidoscopy. This procedure is performed by inserting a video camera with a light source into the rectum and evaluating the lower one-third of the large intestine. The best available modality, however, is through the performance of a procedure called a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is similar to a sigmoidoscopy, except that it is done under sedation for local comfort of the patient, and it transcends the entire large intestine to give us an accurate view of both the left side, the middle side, and also the right side of the large intestine.
