Polyp Histology and Management

ABSTRACT

A polyp represents a growth of tissue projecting from the surface of the bowel mucosa. Polyps may be neoplastic or non-neoplastic. The only definitive way to determine the type of polyp is with endoscopic sampling. Because there is a high rate of synchronous polyps, total colonoscopy must be performed. Although the vast majority of adenomas are benign, as they grow their malignant potential increases. In fact some of these polyps are found to harbor cancer. The mainstay of therapy therefore is endoscopic excision. Fewer than 5% of polyps are irretrievable colonoscopically. For these polyps, various surgical options are available. The advent of laparoscopic techniques has made surgical intervention much less invasive, especially when combining both laparoscopy and endoscopy. Medical therapy has focused on polyp prevention. However, treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially COX-2 inhibitors, has been shown to be effective in inducing polyp regression and inhibiting polyp growth.

KEYWORDS

Polyp - colonoscopy - polypectomy - adenoma

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