digestive disorders
Polyps of the Colon and Rectum
Treatment of Colorectal Polyps
Removal during colonoscopy or sometimes surgery Doctors generally recommend removing all polyps from the large intestine and rectum because of their potential to become cancerous. Doctors remove polyps during a colonoscopy procedure using the biopsy forceps or by using an electrified wire loop (snare). If a polyp cannot be removed during colonoscopy, abdominal surgery may be needed. If a polyp is found to be cancerous, need for additional treatment depends on whether the cancer is likely to have spread. The risk of spread is determined by microscopic examination of the polyp. If the risk is low, no further treatment is necessary. If the risk is high, the affected segment of the large intestine is removed surgically, and the cut ends of the intestine are rejoined (see also Treatment ). When a person has a polyp removed, doctors do colonoscopy to examine the entire large intestine and rectum. Follow-up colonoscopies are done at different intervals depending on many factors including the number, size, and type of the polyps. If colonoscopy cannot be done, a X-Ray Studies of the Digestive Tract or computed tomography (CT) colonography may be done to view the large intestine. 