Find out more about our Academic Medical Centre and efforts in Academic Medicine
Academic Medicine Executive Committee (AM EXCO)
Find out more about what JOAM do to support AM initiatives
Guidelines, forms, and templates for Academic Medicine.
Colonic polyps are mostly harmless. Some, however, can turn malignant and develop into colorectal cancer over time.
“That is why it is necessary to get a colonoscopy done every five to 10 years. Any polyp detected is then removed, whether it is malignant or not,” said Associate Professor Emile Tan, Senior Consultant and Head, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
Polyps are abnormal growths that appear in the colon (large intestines) or rectum. Healthy new cells in the bowel replace old ones on a daily basis. In some people, the new cells grow excessively, resulting in polyps forming. These can occur anywhere on the inner lining of the colon and are usually less than 1cm in diameter.
Most individuals have one to two polyps. But due to genetic conditions, some patients may have a “carpet of polyps”, where the number of polyps may go into the hundreds.
There are different types of polyps. Some, known as hyperplastic polyps, are merely overgrowths of normal cells and do not turn into cancer. “The most common type is called adenoma. While each adenoma has only a 1 per cent risk of becoming cancerous, nearly all malignant polyps start off as an adenoma,” said Assoc Prof Tan.
It takes a while before a polyp becomes cancerous, if at all. Assoc Prof Tan estimates that an adenoma takes about two to three years to grow 2 to 3cm in diameter, and another three to five years to transform into cancer.
“If the growth is faster than that, then we are dealing with a more aggressive cancer and prognosis will be much poorer. Generally, the bigger it grows, the higher the risk of it becoming cancerous,” he added.
Colonic polyps, even those up to 2cm in diameter, usually do not cause any symptoms and tend to be discovered only during routine colonoscopy screening. Patients with bigger polyps may experience symptoms, such as bloating or a change in bowel habit. If the polyp is in the rectum, there may be blood in the stools or a sensation of incomplete bowel emptying.
Once detected, the best treatment is a polypectomy, where the polyp is removed as completely as possible. This can be done during the colonoscopy. “It is important to remove polyps early, not only to prevent them from turning malignant, but also to ensure they do not grow too big because they can obstruct the bowel and affect its function,” said Assoc Prof Tan.
When the polyp is removed, it is sent to be assessed and graded for the level of dysplasia (cancerous change). High-grade dysplasia suggests mutations within the cells and a high chance of the polyp turning cancerous.
The level of dysplasia is a good indication of how regularly a colonoscopy should be done. If an individual has only one polyp of low-grade dysplasia, Prof Tan recommends a scope every three to five years. However, if there are more than five polyps, it is best to have a scope done every one to two years.
A polypectomy is, however, not an option when there are hundreds of polyps. As the condition has a genetic link, SGH tracks families with the condition through the Singapore Polyposis Registry. “These individuals undergo early screening and in some serious cases, they have prophylactic surgery done to remove the affected segment of the colon,” said Assoc Prof Tan. What you need to know about colonoscopy
A colonoscopy allows the doctor to see the insides of your colon. Clearing the bowel thoroughly ensures an unobstructed view.
Before the scope
During the scope
Polyp removal
Who is at risk?
More frequent screening is recommended for these individuals.
Get the latest updates about Singapore Health in your mailbox! Click here to subscribe.
Tags: