DIFFERENT TYPES OF POLYPS

HYPERPLASTIC POLYPS

These polyps are small and circular, measuring less than ¼ -inch wide. Usually, hyperplastic polyps are benign. However, if hyperplastic polyps are discovered on the right side of the colon, they should be completely removed because they carry risk for cancer.

ADENOMAS

Adenomas tend to be circular in shape as well. They account for about 75 percent of all colon polyps, so they are certainly the most common. These polyps are considered precancerous and should be removed. If adenomas are left to grow, they can turn into cancer. There are three types of adeonomas:

Villous—tend to be the largest and are most likely to become cancerous

Tubular—tend to be the least likely to become cancerous

Tubulovillous—considered to have a higher risk of malignant transformation than tubular adenoma

FLAT POLYPS

Many polyps are easy to detect because they appear like a mushroom. Some polyps are flat, and these can be easily missed during a colonoscopy. Sometimes called lesions, flat polyps can be just as deadly as circular polyps. More studies are revealing the dangers of flat polyps, and gastroenterologists are taking special measures to look for flat polyps during colonoscopies. Flat polyps can be removed just like other types of polyps, but viewing them can be difficult because they appear level or like a small indentation.

WHAT ARE POLYPS?

Polyps are abnormal tissue growths that most often look like small, flat bumps or tiny mushroom like stalks. Most polyps are small and less than half an inch wide.

Polyps in the colon are the most common, but it’s also possible to develop polyps in places that include:

• ear canal
• cervix
• stomach
• nose
• uterus
• throat

Most polyps are benign, meaning they’re noncancerous. But because they are due to abnormal cell growth, they can eventually become malignant, or cancerous. Your doctor can help determine if the growth is a polyp by performing a biopsy. This involves taking a small sample of tissue and testing it for the presence of cancerous cells.

Treatment for polyps depends on their location, size, and whether they’re benign or malignant.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF POLYPS?

Each type of polyp can cause unique symptoms based on location. Below are some common polyp types, their locations, and symptoms.

Type of polyps	Location	Symptoms
aural	ear canal	loss of hearing and blood drainage from the ear
cervical	cervix, where the uterus connects to the vagina	typically no symptoms, but can include bleeding during menstruation (heavier) or sex, or an unusual discharge
colorectal (colon)	large intestine, colon, and rectum	blood in stool, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea
nasal	nose or near sinuses	similar to the common cold such as headache, nose pain, loss of smell
gastric (stomach)	stomach and stomach lining	nausea, pain, tenderness, vomiting, bleeding
endometrial (uterine)	uterus, usually uterine lining	infertility, irregular menstrual bleeding, vaginal bleeding
vocal cord (throat)	vocal cords	hoarse and breathy voice that develops over a few days to several weeks
bladder	bladder lining	blood in urine, painful urination, frequent urination

Most colon polyps are noncancerous and do not often cause symptoms until they are in their later stages. But like gastric polyps, they can develop into cancer.

 

WHAT CAUSES POLYPS?

The causes of polyps can vary based on their location. For example, throat polyps are usually a result of an injury from shouting loudly or damage from a breathing tube.

Some known causes include:

• inflammation
• a foreign object
• a cyst
• a tumor
• mutation in the genes of colon cells
• chronic stomach inflammation
• excess estrogen

Polyps grow through rapidly dividing cells, which is similar to how cancer cells grow. This is why they can become cancerous, even though most polyps are benign.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS OF POLYPS?

Men and people who smoke have a higher risk for bladder polyps. Women over 40 years of age and women who have had children are more likely to develop polyps in the uterus.

For cervical polyps, the risk increases in women over 20 years or age and women who are premenopausal.

People who habitually stress their vocal cords or have acid reflux have a higher risk for throat polyps. But there are no known risk factors for aural polyps.

RISKS FOR COLON POLYPS

For colon polyps, the risk factors include:

• eating a high-fat, low-fiber diet
• being over 50 years of age
• having a family history of colon polyps and cancer
• using tobacco and alcohol
• having an intestinal inflammation disorder like Crohn’s disease
• being obese
• not getting enough exercise
• having type 2 diabetes that isn’t well-managed

RISKS FOR STOMACH POLYPS

The risk for stomach polyps increases with the following:

• age — more common in middle to old age
• bacterial stomach infections
• familial adenomatous polyposis(FAP), a rare genetic syndrome
• regular use of proton pump inhibitors like Nexium, Prilosec, and Protonix

RISKS FOR NASAL POLYPS

Nasal polyps are more likely to develop in people who experience the following conditions:

• ongoing sinus infections
• allergies
• asthma
• cystic fibrosis
• sensitivity to aspirin

 

The following are some of the treatments we offer Alphabetically (A-Z):