Different Types of Polyps

Polyps are growths that form in the mucosal lining of organs in the body. The types of polyps that you have will determine your cancer risk and the treatment needed.

Common Types of Polyps

• colon polyps
• stomach polyps
• nasal or sinus polyps
• urinary bladder polyps
• gall bladder polyps
• uterine polyps and
• vaginal polyps

Stomach Polyps

Stomach polyps are rare and are usually found when looking for other causes of stomach pain. But because urinary bladder polyps can be cancerous, blood in your urine or painful urination should be checked by a doctor immediately.

Uterine Polyps

Uterine polyps are rarely cancerous and are generally attached to the inner uterine wall. These polyps should not be confused with endometriosis, which occurs on the outside of the uterus or with fibroids, which are found in uterine muscle tissue; these are not cancerous.

Colon Polyps:

The following information is about colon polyps or growths in the mucosal lining of your colon.

Sessile Polyps

Polyps in your colon are in two different shapes. Sessile polyps are growths that look like small flat lumps on the side of the colon. Pedunculated polyps are bubble-like polyps at the ends of stalks. The non-cancerous types of polyps include: hyperplastic, inflammatory and hamartomatous (ha-mer-to-me-tus) polyps. Adenomas or adenomatous polyps are the cancerous forms of colon polyps.

Hyperplastic Polyps

Hyperplastic polyps are small and are found near the bottom of the colon near the rear-end. They look the same as cancerous polyps and need to be removed and tested to know for sure if they are cancerous.

Inflammatory Polyps

Inflammatory polyps are usually part of ulcerative colitis or inflammatory bowel disease. The harmartomatous polyps are formed in the small intestine and small bowel. These types of polyps have the potential to become cancerous but are usually benign. They are associated with the disease Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

Adenomas or Adenomatous Polyps

The adenomas or adenomatous polyps may become cancerous polyps. A cancerous adenoma is called an adenocarcinoma. These types of polyps have the greatest risk of increasing in size and can block the colon. The adenomas make up about 75% of all colon polyps.

These larger polyps may cause symptoms such as constipation or colon blockage. Your doctor will take a small amount of tissue to find out if the polyp is cancerous. After removal, you will need regular screenings as adenomas polyps may reoccur.

The adenomas polyps come in three types:

• villous
• tubular
• tubulovillous adenomas

The villous adenomas are generally precancerous polyps that may become cancerous. Tubular adenomas are less likely to become malignant cancers (spread) and more likely to be benign tumors (localized). The tubulovillous adenomas are gastric polyps that develop in the gastrointestinal tract. These adenomas are more likely to become malignant.

Talk to Your Doctor

Discuss with your doctor what type of polyps you have. Remember to write down the name and spelling of the type of polyp. If tests are required to find out if the polyp is cancerous, ask questions about the best way to take samples or to remove the polyp so that you know what is going to be done.

Written by Susan Lewis - 3/4/09

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