Polyps vary in size, as small as a few millimeters, as large as 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter like millet, and even block the intestine, leading to intestinal obstruction. Polyps are single and common. In some rare cases, there may be thousands of polyps. Some polyp roots, that is, where they are connected with mucosa, have pedicles of different lengths, which are called pedicled polyps, and some polyps spread and grow, which are called flat polyps or sessile polyps. Although the etiology of polyps is very complicated, most of them are benign and not life-threatening, and only some of them have the trend of canceration and need active treatment.
Dr. Jin Dun: The general manifestations of intestinal polyps.
Generally, adenomatous polyp of colon is more common in middle-aged and elderly people, and only some rare polyposis occurs in young and middle-aged people. Children will also have intestinal polyps. According to different pathological types and pathogenic factors, the clinical manifestations of different intestinal polyps vary greatly, but except inflammatory polyp, most intestinal polyps have no conscious symptoms, especially colonic adenoma, which is the most common in clinic and has the greatest risk of canceration, and is generally asymptomatic, and is often found accidentally in colonoscopy or intestinal X-ray examination.
Clinically, only a small number of patients with intestinal polyps have bloody stool, mucus stool or constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other abnormalities, and these symptoms often lack specificity. Among symptomatic colonic adenomas, bloody stool or mucus blood is the most common, usually found in relatively large rectal polyps, and sometimes sudden massive bleeding, and some patients suffer from long-term chronic blood loss due to polyps, leading to anemia. Large adenomas in the rectum can also cause an increase in stool frequency or a feeling of rectocele, and even prolapse of anus. In some rare cases, colon adenoma may lead to intussusception and abdominal colic. The symptoms of small intestinal polyps are often not obvious, but they can be manifested as recurrent abdominal pain and intestinal bleeding.
Different types of polyps and polyps with different causes will also have special clinical manifestations. For example, patients with inflammatory polyp often have chronic diarrhea, mucous stool and bloody stool caused by chronic inflammatory diseases of colon, and also have chronic inflammatory manifestations such as fever, anemia and emaciation. Patients with lymphoma may have chronic fever and gastrointestinal bleeding. Carcinoid can lead to carcinoid syndrome and so on.
How are intestinal polyps formed?
The formation of intestinal polyps may be related to inflammatory stimuli, genetic factors and diet. The most common factor in the formation of intestinal polyps is the stimulation of inflammation. Under the stimulation of chronic and long-term chronic inflammation, the mucosa on the intestinal surface is stimulated to form chronic hyperplasia, which will lead to the formation of intestinal polyps.
In addition, the formation of intestinal polyps may also be related to genetic factors. If the patient's parents have a history of intestinal polyps, or the parents themselves are high-risk groups of intestinal polyps, then the probability of their children suffering from intestinal polyps will increase a lot.
The formation of intestinal polyps may be related to dietary factors. For example, patients like to eat spicy food, such as spicy hot pot, pepper, garlic and so on. , may stimulate the intestinal mucosa. Mechanical injury may occur after intestinal mucosa is stimulated, and intestinal polyps may form in the long run. In addition, eating greasy and fried food for a long time will lead to the formation of intestinal polyps.