Bowel polyps

Bowel polyps are small growths on the inner lining of the colon (large bowel) or rectum. They are common, affecting 15-20% of the UK population, and don't usually cause symptoms.

Polyps are usually less than 1cm in size, although they can grow up to several centimetres. There are various forms:

some are a tiny raised area or bulge, known as a sessile polyp
some look like a grape on a stalk, known as a pedunculated polyp
some take the form of many tiny bumps clustered together

Bowel polyps are not usually cancerous, although if they're discovered they'll need to be removed, as some will eventually turn into cancer if left untreated.

Some people just develop one polyp, while others may have a few. They tend to occur in people over the age of 60.

How are they caused?

Bowel polyps are caused by an abnormal production of cells. The lining of the bowel constantly renews itself, and a faulty gene can cause the cells in the bowel lining to grow more quickly.

There may be a family tendency towards developing bowel polyps or bowel cancer.

What are the symptoms?

Most people with polyps won't be aware of them as they produce no symptoms and are often discovered by accident.

However, some larger polyps can cause:

a small amount of rectal bleeding (blood in your stool)
mucus to be produced when you open your bowels
diarrhoea or constipation
abdominal pain

How are they discovered?

Bowel polyps are usually found as a result of a bowel investigation for another reason, such as a sigmoidoscopy (examination of the last part of the bowel) or during screening for bowel cancer.

If polyps are found, a colonoscopy or CT colonography is needed to view the whole of the large bowel and remove any polyps.

How are they treated?

There are several methods for treating polyps, but the most common procedure involves snaring the polyp during a colonoscopy. Snaring is like cutting the polyp off with cheese wire and is painless.

Both of the above methods involve passing a flexible instrument called a colonoscope through your bottom and up into your bowel. The colonoscope has a wire with an electric current to either cauterise (burn off) or snare the polyp.

In rare cases, polyps may need to be treated by surgically removing part of the bowel. This is usually only done when the polyp has some cell changes or is particularly large.

After the polyp or polyps have been removed, they are sent to specialists in a laboratory, who will inform your consultant if:

the polyp has been completely removed
there is any risk of it regrowing
there is any cancerous change in the polyp

If there is a cancerous change in the polyp, you may need further treatment (depending on the degree and extent of change). Your specialist will be able to advise you on this.

Outlook

Some people will need further colonoscopies because polyps can recur. Polyps can sometimes run in families. This is uncommon, but means you'll need colonoscopy checks at regular intervals.

You might be asked to have repeat examinations at intervals of around three to five years to catch any further polyps that may develop and potentially turn into bowel cancer.