Colon polyp: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
The content of the article:
- Possible reasons
- Classification
- Colon polyp symptoms
- Diagnostics
-
Colon polyps treatment
Intestinal site resection
- Potential complications
- Forecast
- Video
Colon polyp is formed from the glandular epithelium of its mucous membrane. Such growths are diagnosed quite often, they are usually benign, but in some cases they can become malignant (malignant).
Colon polyps are formed from the mucous membrane
The pathology is not accompanied by pronounced symptoms, but some patients complain of pain in the abdomen, defecation disorders, the appearance of blood and mucus in the feces. The presence of neoplasms can provoke intestinal obstruction or cancer, which justifies the need for timely diagnosis and early initiation of therapy.
The outgrowths outwardly resemble nodes on a thin stalk or broad base. They can be single or multiple, and even reach in the amount of several hundred or thousands of pieces (diffuse familial polyposis). The risk of their formation is highest in patients over the age of 50, but they are often found in children.
Colon neoplasia is diagnosed by the proctologist by taking anamnesis, physical examination of the patient, rectal examination, endoscopy and radiography. Treatment of the disease is extremely rapid. Considering the patient's condition, the number, size and place of attachment of tumors, the doctor recommends surgical or endoscopic removal or resection of the affected area of the intestine.
Possible reasons
One of the supposed reasons for the formation of outgrowths in the large intestine are chronic inflammatory changes in its mucous membrane. They are most often observed in patients who eat unbalanced and irregularly. Their diet is dominated by spicy, spicy, fried, salty and fatty foods, and there are practically no fresh vegetables and fruits.
The development of pathology may be associated with an unbalanced and irregular diet.
Because of this, the peristaltic activity of the intestine decreases, and the number of harmful compounds in the intestinal contents increases. Disorder of peristalsis slows down the movement of the digested food through the intestine, and the contained harmful substances contact its inner wall for a longer time.
At the same time, the density of feces increases, and when moving, they injure the large intestine, which also leads to chronic inflammation of its mucous membrane.
Other causes of tumors include:
- disturbances in the development of the intestinal wall during the period of intrauterine development of the fetus;
- alcohol abuse, smoking;
- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract);
- hypodynamia;
- hereditary predisposition.
Classification
Depending on the morphological structure, the following types of polyps are distinguished:
| View | Characteristic |
| Adenomatous (glandular or tubular) | They are diagnosed most often, in almost 50% of patients. They consist of glandular epithelium, are dense hyperplastic growths of mushroom-shaped pinkish or reddish hue. Less common are branching outgrowths creeping along the intestinal mucosa. Their average diameter reaches from 2 to 3 cm, they are not prone to bleeding and expression, they can degenerate into malignant neoplasms |
|
Papillary (villous) |
Found in 14% of patients. They look like creeping formations or knots of deep red color. In size they reach up to 5 cm or more. Are prone to malignancy, ulceration and bleeding |
| Glandular villous | They are a transitional form of glandular and villous growths. Prone to malignancy, detected in 20% of cases |
| Hyperplastic | Formed in 75% of patients. They look like nodes slightly rising above the mucous membrane, soft in consistency. They do not exceed 5 mm in diameter, they are not prone to malignancy |
| Juvenile | They are considered a developmental anomaly found in childhood and adolescence. Can be large, usually have a thin stem, and do not become malignant |
Colon polyp symptoms
Clinical symptoms are not observed in most cases. Tumors are discovered by chance during instrumental studies for other gastrointestinal diseases. Some patients experience painful sensations of a cramping, bursting or aching nature in the lower and lateral parts of the abdomen, weakening or completely disappearing after a bowel movement.
Polyps can cause intermittent constipation and diarrhea
Potential symptoms also include frequent intermittent constipation and diarrhea. Villous outgrowths localized in the lower calving of the intestine can be manifested by the appearance of blood and mucus in the feces. With other types of neoplasms, this phenomenon is usually not observed, since they are not prone to the formation of mucus and bleeding.
Also, this symptom is not characteristic of villous polyps located in the upper part of the large intestine. The impurities released by them, when passing through the intestines, are partially processed and mixed with feces, which is why they are practically not visually determined.
Diagnostics
For diagnostics, the doctor takes into account the existing clinical manifestations, conducts a physical and rectal examination, and gives the patient a referral for laboratory and instrumental studies.
The choice of the optimal diagnostic method is determined by the doctor
During palpation of the abdomen in the area affected by neoplasms, soreness is revealed. Rectal digital examination can be informative if the neoplasms are located in the lower part of the large intestine.
Irrigoscopy is effective only with outgrowths larger than 1 cm. The technique allows you to establish the presence of single or multiple filling defects. Occult blood in the analysis of feces is detected only with growths prone to bleeding.
Most often, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is performed
Examination of the overlying calving of the intestine and rectum is carried out by means of endoscopic methods - colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. In the course of research, tumors of any size are visualized, their number, diameter, shape and place of attachment are established, necrotic, puffed up and bleeding outgrowths are revealed.
Endoscopy allows you to obtain tissue samples of neoplasia for subsequent histological examination. If the performed manipulations are not enough to make an accurate diagnosis, computed tomography is performed. The result is a detailed three-dimensional image of the large intestine with all the existing neoplasms.
Colon polyps treatment
The only effective treatment is surgical removal of tumors. If a patient is diagnosed with small outgrowths without signs of malignancy, he may be offered sparing endoscopic techniques. In these cases, an endoscope with a special loop is inserted into the intestine, which is thrown over the polyp and moved to its base.
Large growths are usually surgically removed
Manipulation allows you to remove the node and simultaneously conduct electrocautery of the bleeding base. Usually, the operation is well tolerated by patients and does not require hospitalization.
Endoscopic techniques can also be used to remove large neoplasms, but with such interventions, the risk of perforation or bleeding in the colon increases. In this regard, such manipulations should only be carried out by experienced endoscopic surgeons with access to modern equipment.
Usually large outgrowths are removed using classical surgical techniques in a hospital setting. In the area of neoplasia attachment, the large intestine is opened, the growth is excised, after which the intestine is sutured.
Intestinal site resection
Resection of the affected area of the intestine is required when multiple growths, polyps with signs of malignancy and tumors complicated by necrosis of the intestinal wall and intestinal obstruction are detected. Depending on the prevalence of the pathological process and the type of neoplasms, the volume of resection is established.
After surgery, patients require dressings, as well as the use of antibacterial drugs and analgesics.
Potential complications
Large neoplasias in some cases can cause partial closure of the lumen of the colon and the appearance of intestinal obstruction, the symptoms of which are:
- nausea, bloating, vomiting;
- lack of bowel movements;
- intense painful sensations of a cramping character.
To eliminate these consequences, an emergency hospitalization of the patient and an urgent surgical intervention are required.
One of the possible complications is the development of colorectal cancer
Another possible complication is malignancy of tumor cells with the development of colorectal cancer, the formation of hematogenous and lymphogenous metastases.
Forecast
The most favorable prognosis is given to patients with uncomplicated growths without signs of malignancy. In all other cases, the prognosis directly depends on the general condition of the patient and the severity of the disease.
Depending on the type of outgrowths, the doctor individually sets the required duration of observations and the frequency of colonoscopy.
Video
We offer for viewing a video on the topic of the article.
Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
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