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Colonic Polyps

Maximos Attia, FAAFP, MD and Marcelle Meseeha, FACP, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Intraluminal colonic tissue growth; most commonly sporadic or part of polyposis syndromes

  • Generally slow growing with low malignant potential; due to high prevalence in population; ho...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Generally asymptomatic

  • Painless rectal bleeding, bright or dark red, mixed with stools, dripping, or on wiping

  • Diarrhea or mucous stool

  • Abdominal pain

  • Constipation

  • Chronic bleeding, result...

TREATMENT

SURGERY/OTHER PROCEDURES

  • Colonic polypectomy; diagnostic, therapeutic:

    • Snare polypectomy with electrocautery for pedunculated polyps

    • Endoscopic mucosal resection for sessile polyps

    • Endoscopic su...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Follow-up colonoscopy in: (3
  • 10 years if no polyps or distal small hyperplastic polyps (<10 mm) (3)[B]

  • 3 to 5 years in hyperplastic polyps ≥10 mm (3)[C]

  • 7 to...

REFERENCES

1
Shaukat A, Kahi CJ, Burke CA, et al. ACG clinical guidelines: colorectal cancer screening 2021. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(3):458.
2
Ichkhanian Y, Zuchelli T, Watson A, et al. Evolving...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Kaltenbach T, Anderson JC, Burke CA, et al. Endoscopic removal of colorectal lesions—recommendations by the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. Ga...

SEE ALSO

Colon Cancer; Rectal Cancer 

CODES

ICD10

  • K63.5 Polyp of colon

  • D12.6 Benign neoplasm of colon, unspecified

  • K51.40 Inflammatory polyps of colon without complications

  • D12.5 Benign neoplasm of sigmoid colon

  • D12.2 Benign neoplasm of ascend...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Colonoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing polyps.

  • Biopsy small hyperplastic polyps to differentiate adenomatous and serrated polyps.

  • Use of NSAIDs and calcium is associated with de...

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