Bowel polyps
How are they treated?
There are several methods for treating polyps, but the most common procedure involves snaring the polypduring a colonoscopy. Snaring is like cutting the polyp off with cheese wire and is painless.
Both of the above methods involve passing a flexible instrument called a colonoscope through your bottom andup into your bowel. The colonoscope has a wire with an electric current to either cauterise (burn off) or snare the polyp.
In rare cases, polyps may need to be treated by surgically removing part of the bowel. This is usually only done when the polyp has some cell changes or is particularly large.
After the polyp or polyps have been removed, they are sent to specialists in a laboratory, who will inform your consultant if:
- the polyp has been completely removed
- there is any risk of it regrowing
- there is any cancerous change in the polyp
If there is a cancerous change in the polyp, you may need further treatment (depending on the degree and extent of change). Your specialist will be able to advise you on this.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Bowel polyps are small growths on the inner lining of the colon (large bowel) or rectum. They are common, affecting 15-20% of the UK population, and do not usually cause symptoms.
How are they caused?
Bowel polyps are caused by an abnormal production of cells. The lining of the bowel constantly renews itself, and a faulty gene can cause the cells in the bowel lining to grow more quickly. There may
What are the symptoms?
Most people with polyps won't be aware of them as they produce no symptoms and are often discovered by accident. However, some larger polyps can cause: a small amount of Rectal bleeding (blood in y
How are they discovered?
Bowel polypsare usually found as a result of a bowel investigation for another reason, such as a sigmoidoscopy (examination of the last part of the bowel) or during screening for bowel cancer . If po
How are they treated?
There are several methods for treating polyps, but the most common procedure involves snaring the polypduring a colonoscopy. Snaring is like cutting the polyp off with cheese wire and is painless. Bo
Outlook
Some people will need further colonoscopies because polyps can recur. Polyps can sometimes run in families. This is uncommon, butmeans you'll need colonoscopy checks at regular intervals. You might b
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