Gynecology General Gynecology

Polyp (medicine) Wikipedia

Image:Polyp.jpeg|thumb|right|Polyp of sigmoid colon as revealed by colonoscopy. Approximately 1 cm in diameter, this aymptomatic solitary polyp in a 57-year-old male is sessile and smooth. The polyp was removed by snare cautery. Source: CDC
A polyp is a smooth-coated abnormal growth (tumor) projecting from a mucous membrane. It is attached to the surface by a narrow elongated pedicle. Polyps are commonly found in the nose, urinary bladder, uterus, rectum, and large intestine. They may also occur elsewhere in the body where mucous membrane exists.

Under some extreme conditions, polyps in the digestive system|digestive tracts of mammals occasionally Bleeding|bleed, discharge, and seep rotten oily yellow-brown waste. There are effective methods of removing such polyps from digestive tracts. A procedure known as the invasive (medical)|invasive colonoscopy can effectively remove polyps. Patients are administered a sedative and the procedure is essentially painless. Due to the sedative's effect, there is no anxiety during the procedure and the patient does not remember very much about the procedure itself. A new procedure known as a virtual colonoscopy can detect cancerous polyps with a device similar to a CT scan, but if cancerous growths are found, an invasive procedure still must be employed. If tracts of intestine are dangerously disseminated with cancerous polyps, a section of that tract might have to be removed surgically. The best way to prevent cancerous polyps is to go to regular medical checkups (twice a year), even though it may seem unnecessary or uncomfortable, especially if there is a family hereditary predisposition. Colon cancer remains one of the most preventable and treatable types of cancer.

Types of polyps

• adenomatous