Polyps And Colon Cancer Risk
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Polyps certainly raise the risk or increase the risk of developing colon cancer. There
are several types of polyps though. There are what we call tubular polyps which are
basically like grape like structures hanging from a stalk. Our colleagues in gastroendocrinology
our colonoscopist, can go in and readily clip these off, so these tend to be what we call
low risk polyps. The size of the polyp is important. Polyps that are greater than a
centimeter, about half an inch, are higher risk. Polyps that are less than this amount,
less than a centimeter, are at lower risk. There are also the number of polyps that are
seen during the colonoscopy. Two to three is considered low risk. Anything greater than
three is considered high risk.
Other types of polyps are called villous polyps these are more flat polyps that are maybe
harder to remove, certainly high grade dysplasia, that's where the normal colon architecture,
the normal colon cells, don't look normal they look erratic and potentially deranged
and they are potentially going to go on to develop cancer. If we find those types of
changes we certainly raise concerns in regards to the risk of colon cancer and may argue
for patients to undergo surgery.
