The polyps in the intestine (or intestinal polyps) arise in approximately 30% of the adult population over the age of 50 and are usually benign. However, depending on the type of polyp, there is a risk that it may turn into a cancer Learn more about these small lumps that appear inside the large intestine below:

What are polyps in the intestine?

According to Dr Tomazo Franzini, endoscopist at Delboni, Dasa's clinical analysis and imaging laboratory, polyps are changes that occur on the mucosal surface of the intestine due to excessive proliferation of cells, forming the small rounded structures similar to warts that appear on the skin.

Initially, polyps are benign, but they can grow and become malignant. For this reason, it is very important to remove polyps to prevent cancer.

What are the types of intestinal polyps?

There are a few types of polyps, however, the endoscopist physician informs that it is necessary to divide intestinal polyps into four main groups. These are:

• Adenomas: closely related to adenocarcinoma - the main bowel cancer ;
• Hyperplastics: benign polyps with no risk of malignant transformation;
• Knurling: should receive the same treatment as for the adenoma;
• Inflammatory: are associated with ulcerative colitis or to Crohn's disease They are at risk for bowel cancer.

What are the causes of polyps in the intestine?

According to Dr Tomazo Franzini, polyps arise as a result of a failure in the natural process of cell duplication: "This generates a disordered proliferation, which in a second moment, followed by several alterations, can evolve into cancer", he explains.

In addition, mutations in the intestine can arise over a lifetime. Even people over the age of 50 are more likely to develop polyps. However, there is an even greater risk when the problem is hereditary.

The patient can still have intestinal polyps due to conditions such as Crohn's Disease, but also due to other risk factors, such as:

• Obesity ;
• Sedentarism;
• Diet (red meat, ultra-processed foods, high temperature preparation);
• Smoking;
• Alcoholism;
• Age greater than 50 years;
• Personal or family history of colorectal cancer, or colorectal polyps;
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ;
• Hereditary syndromes;
• Type 2 Diabetes .

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What are the symptoms of polyps in the intestine?

Polyps in the intestine, for the most part, do not generate any symptoms, according to our consulted expert.

"Symptoms arise except when there is some surface change that generates bleeding from the stool or reaches a size large enough to obstruct the bowel, generating abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and stopping the elimination of gases and feces ", he points out.

However, it is important to know that these situations usually occur when the polyp has already transformed into cancer.

Therefore, when intestinal polyps are already more developed, the main symptoms are:

• Change in bowel habit ( diarrhea or constipation);
• Presence of blood in the stool which can be seen with the naked eye or detected by a fecal occult blood test;
• Abdominal pain or discomfort, such as gas and intestinal cramps.

How are polyps in the intestine diagnosed?

The endoscopist informs us that the diagnosis of polyps in the intestine is made through some tests, among them colonoscopy It's a good idea to have a stool test, a CT scan, and a stool examination.

"However, there is no doubt that the best of them is colonoscopy, because not only does it allow us to diagnose lesions from their earliest stages, but it also allows us to resect [remove] them," he adds.

With colonoscopy, it is possible to look inside the intestine in order to identify any signs of change, including polyps.

What are the treatments for polyps in the intestine?

Polyps in the intestine with indication for resection (extraction through surgery) are treated by colonoscopy.

Dr Tomazo Franzini reminds us that there are several ways to do it, and this is defined during the exam according to size, location, the doctor's expertise, and the availability of hospital resources.

Many of the intestinal polyps seen at colonoscopy can be completely removed during the procedure by polypectomy.

Without a doubt, colonoscopy is considered the most efficient exam for the detection of polyps, mainly because of the possibility of biopsy and/or removal of the lesions during the procedure.

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Do polyps come back after treatment?

When incompletely resected, the specialist reports that polyps can grow in the middle of the scar from where it was removed, and often this is only discovered at the next colonoscopy exam.

New polyps can also appear in different locations, occurring in about 30% of individuals. Therefore, periodic medical follow-up should be done for the investigation of new polyps.

Also, once the polyp is removed completely, reappearance is not common, but it can happen.

Can intestinal polyp turn into cancer?

According to the endoscopist, the adenomatous and serrated polyps in their natural history evolve to cancer: "the only doubt is in how long this will occur. Therefore, it is essential to perform periodic colonoscopies", he highlights.

Just as adenomatous and serrated polyps have a higher risk of developing into cancer, there are other factors that also help to estimate the risk of cancer. These are:

• Polyps larger than 1 cm are more dangerous;
• Presence of more than four adenomatous polyps;
• Existence of high-grade dysplasia in the polyps.

Is it possible to get bowel cancer without polyps?

In fact, many people believe that intestinal polyps are synonymous with bowel cancer, but it is important to differentiate between them.

Thus, bowel cancer is a tumor that develops in the large intestine, also called cancer of the colon and rectum.

Source: Dr. Tomazo Franzini, endoscopist physician at Delboni, Dasa's clinical analysis and imaging laboratory.