Intestinal polyps are not a major disease, but they should not be ignored. We can neither ignore nor need to be overly alarmed by polyps in colonoscopy reports. For recurrent polyp growths, we must pay attention to the possibility of genetic disease and also to the presence of other diseases. For patients who are found to have intestinal polyps but do not need special treatment for the time being, they must pay attention to their daily diet and have regular colonoscopy.
A. How do intestinal polyps come from
Colon polyp is a bulging bulge from the mucosal surface of the large intestine into the intestinal lumen, commonly known as a lump of flesh growing in the intestinal canal, and is the benign tumor with the highest incidence in the colon. The colon is a high incidence of polyps, which are often not easily detected because they rarely cause uncomfortable symptoms, bleeding and obstruction, and are mostly discovered during physical examinations or checkups for other diseases.
1, infection: inflammatory polyps are associated with chronic inflammation of the intestine.
2, age: the incidence of colorectal polyps increases with age
3.Embryonic abnormalities: juvenile polyposis is mostly misshapen tumors, which may be related to abnormal embryonic development.
4, lifestyle habits: low-fiber diet is associated with colorectal polyps; smoking is closely related to adenomatous polyps
5, genetic: the occurrence of certain polyposis is related to genetics, such as familial non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), etc.
Second, who are the people with high incidence of intestinal polyps
Family members have colon cancer or colon polyps; long-term high fat, high animal protein, low fiber and fried food; age greater than 50 years old. In addition, the longer you sit, the higher the risk of developing intestinal polyps.
It is recommended that these types of people have an annual examination such as electronic colonoscopy, anal finger examination and fecal occult blood to detect colon adenomas with cancer tendency in time. In Europe and the United States, where colorectal cancer is highly prevalent, from the age of 50, it is recommended for all people to have an annual occult blood test on naturally excreted stool and a complete colonoscopy every 5 to 10 years for early detection.
Why intestinal polyps can become intestinal cancer
There are two types of polyps, adenomatous polyps and non-adenomatous polyps. Adenomatous polyps have the possibility of cancer, and some studies show that more than 95% of colorectal cancers come from colorectal adenomas. Non-adenomatous polyps such as inflammatory polyps and hyperplastic polyps are not related to the development of colorectal cancer.
How long it takes for polyps to develop into cancer
In terms of age of onset, adenomatous polyps are 5 to 10 years earlier than colorectal cancer. Adenomatous polyp cancer is related to its size, morphology and pathological type. Broad-based adenomas have a higher cancer rate than ciliated adenomas; the larger the adenoma, the more likely it is to become cancerous; and the more villous components in the adenoma structure, the more likely it is to become cancerous.
There are also special types of adenomatous polyps: flat polyps and lateral developmental polyps. The early stage can be malignant to colorectal cancer.
V. Treatment options for polyps
In clinical work, the treatment plan is generally decided according to the size, number, presence of complications and pathological nature of intestinal polyps.
1, small polyps are usually removed during colonoscopy and sent for pathological examination.
2.Adenomas with diameter >3cm, especially villous adenomas, should be surgically removed: those below the peritoneal fold should be removed through the anus, while those above the peritoneal fold should be removed openly or under laparoscopy.
If adenoma penetrates the mucosal muscle layer or infiltrates the submucosa, it is invasive cancer and should be treated according to the principles of colorectal cancer treatment. If the adenoma malignant lesion does not penetrate the mucosal muscle layer, does not invade small blood vessels and lymph, has a good degree of differentiation and has no residue on the cut edge, it is not necessary to perform surgery after removal, but should be closely observed.
4, inflammatory polyps to treat the primary intestinal disease, inflammatory stimulation disappears, polyps can disappear on their own; proliferative polyps symptoms are not obvious, no special treatment.