Disorders of the Gastrointestinal System, 2nd Edition
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Intestinal polyps Intestinal polyps are masses of tissue that project from the surface of the mu- cous membrane. They may develop in the colon or rectum, protruding into the GI tract. Most polyps do not cause symp - toms, but they can occasionally cause minor occult or rectal bleeding, which is not usually detected by observation. Al- though most polyps are benign, some may become cancerous (Enders, 2020). Though most polyps are benign, villous and hereditary polyps associated with other syndromes are significantly more likely to become cancerous. There are several types of polyps (Macrae, 2022b): ● Inflammatory polyps: Often seen in IBD. ● Hamartomatous polyps: Generally benign unless associated with other syndromes. ● Adenomas: Can be shaped like a tube, villous, or a mixture of both. ● Hyperplastic. ● Sessile serrated and traditional serrated polyps: Have a saw-tooth appearance and are at high risk for developing cancer.
CASE STUDY 15 Jennifer is a 52-year-old woman. Her doc- tor has advised her to undergo her first colonoscopy for colon cancer screening purposes. After the procedure, she is notified that three polyps have been re - moved. She is unsure exactly what this means but remembers that her grand- mother also had polyps removed that turned out to be cancerous. She is scared but is waiting on pathology results. Question Jennifer is concerned about the potential for colon cancer. What information should her healthcare provider tell her about the likelihood of the polyps being malignant? a. Most polyps are benign. b. Most polyps are malignant. c. Hamartomatous polyps are most likely malignant. d. Serrated polyps have a low risk of developing into cancer. Answer/Rationale: The correct answer is a. Most polyps are benign.
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