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Gastrointestinal polyps are pedunculated structures that invade into the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. They can appear singly or in groups, but quite rarely in the small intestine and stomach. Polyps may be asymptomatic for a very long time. Congenital form of this condition may run in families.
What are gastrointestinal polyps?
Gastrointestinal polyps are structures that have a pedunculated form, invading into the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. Peristaltic movements and displacement of chyme can irritate the surface of a polyp or its entire mass by rubbing and pulling along the stalk. Ulcers may form that cause chronic bleeding into the gut. It happens that the polyps of the gastrointestinal tract are asymptomatic for a long time. Usually, especially in the initial period, they show the cellular structure of a benign tumor, e.g. lipoma, adenoma, myoma, fibroma or hemangioma. They can become malignant over time. Their frequency and number increase with age.
The fecal occult blood cassette test, which you can buy at Medonet Market, will help you diagnose polyps.
Digestive polyps – symptoms
Gastrointestinal polyps can be completely asymptomatic for a long time. However, due to the friction of the moving intestinal contents, ulcers may form on their surface causing bleeding into the lumen of a chronic nature (with secondary anemia of the body). Sometimes, as a result of mechanical irritation, they cause chronic diarrhea, and their location in the final segment of the rectum may trigger a feeling of pressure on the stool.
Depending on their size or number, polyps may contribute to symptoms similar to a gastrointestinal obstruction. Sometimes also (especially pedunculated polyps), they can undergo the so-called intussusception and cause the development of a complex of symptoms of complete acute obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract.
WARNING! With time, mainly colon polyps – especially those with a broad base – can become malignant and therefore should be operated on earlier.
Causes of the gastrointestinal polyps
Polyps are pedunculated (sometimes tufted) structures bulging into the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract, of an innate or acquired nature. They are formed from the epithelium. Tuft-type polyps often become malignant, which is influenced by a number of factors, including:
- size of polyps – the greatest risk of turning into a malignant tumor occurs with polyps over 3,5 cm in diameter;
- genetic disease (Cowden’s syndrome) in which cancerous changes appear on the skin, brain and bones;
- Turcot’s syndrome – a condition characterized by a connection between anal and colorectal adenomas and a malignant brain tumor;
- predisposition to malignant small polyps;
- Gardner’s syndrome – a disease characterized by the presence of a large number of polyps in the intestines; patients with this condition are much more likely to develop cancer of the soft tissues and bones.
- Peutz-Jeghers disease – is a genetically determined disorder characterized by the occurrence of freckles around the nose, eyes and anus, around the mouth, feet and hands; the presence of this syndrome makes small polyps more malignant.
How to recognize gastrointestinal polyps?
The diagnosis of polyps and their type is based on an interview obtained from the patient, and above all on tests:
- radiological,
- endoscopic,
- histological examination of the taken sections.
Fortunately, GI polyps are diagnosed less and less as there is greater awareness among the public about the need for checkups. Moreover, the methods of detecting changes are becoming more and more modern.
Digestive polyps – treatment
Surgical removal requires any ulcerated polyp (especially bleeding), obstructing the passage of intestinal contents and causing intussusception or intestinal obstruction, etc. Benign lesions are best removed entirely and examined under a microscope. Non-pedunculated polyps are removed by looping them and caressing them. The lesions can usually be removed intact. Worse, when dealing with tufted polyps, complications can be expected. Their removal is associated with a much more complex procedure, during which polyps are removed in fragments, which makes it much more difficult to examine them later. Exacerbated polyps can alleviate a dietary management similar to that described for diverticulosis. A proper diet alleviates unpleasant ailments.
It is worth performing a mail-order examination of the intestinal microflora and intestinal markers to check the quality of the microbiota.
IMPORTANT: Congenital gastrointestinal polyposis may run in families.