What are polyps?

Polyps are mucosal growths that affect the mucous membranes of organs and develop due to increased cell division or due to genetic factors. Polyps often form due to inflammation and can occur in varying degrees of severity. 90 per cent of all colon cancers are due to polyps. Especially with advancing age, people have a greater tendency to develop polyps, which can develop in the stomach, in the uterus or in the nose. Doctors distinguish between benign polyps and those that can change into malignant polyps. In most cases, polyps can be removed by endoscopic surgery.

What forms of polyps are distinguished?

Doctors commonly distinguish between the following types of polyps:

• Intestinal polyp: settles in the mucous membrane of the intestine and is one of the most common forms of polyps. Intestinal polyps do not usually cause any symptoms.
• Endometrial polyp (uterine polyp): affects the lining of the uterus and cervix, can cause excessive bleeding and abdominal pain, and increase the risk of miscarriage and infertility.
• Gardner syndrome: this is a hereditary disease that results in intestinal polyps and benign bone and soft tissue tumours. Gardner syndrome increases the risk of developing malignant tumours in the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract or other organs.
• Laryngeal polyp: is a usually benign growth of the laryngeal mucosa or vocal folds, which is caused by chronic laryngitis and can manifest itself as hoarseness, irritable cough or impaired voice.
• Nasal polyps: about 4 per cent of the population suffer from this every year. Nasal polyps settle on the ethmoid bone, in the nasal cavity or in the nasopharynx and can lead to problems with breathing, snoring or sinusitis.
• Polyposis: refers to a large number of polyps that occur in a hollow organ. Polyps in the gastrointestinal tract are also called gastrointestinal polyposis.
• Uterine polyp (corpus polyps): this includes benign growths of the lining of the uterus.

These forms of polyps are in turn divided into these three categories according to the frequency of their occurrence and their size:

• Hyperplastic polyps: these include tissue growths that are usually smaller than 6 mm and rarely become malignant. Hyperplastic polyps that become larger than 6 mm should be surgically removed.
• Neoplastic polyps (adenomas): are the most common type of polyps and affect about 80 per cent of all growths. Neoplastic polyps occur mainly at an advanced age and increase the risk of bowel cancer with advanced size.
• Inflammatory polyps (pseudopolyps): are a rather rare form of polyps that form due to inflammations such as Crohn's disease and do not carry a risk of degeneration.

How are polyps treated?

The type of treatment always depends on the shape of the polyp. Surgery does not necessarily have to be prescribed for all types of polyps. However, stomach and intestinal polyps in particular, which increase the risk of cancer, should be removed.

How can polyps be prevented?

Since polyps can also develop due to a genetic disposition, they cannot be prevented in general. However, the following factors could help to minimise the development of polyps:

• a balanced diet by eating fibre (fruit and vegetables) and reducing red meat
• Avoiding alcohol and nicotine

In order to detect polyps at an early stage, regular colonoscopies every 10 years are recommended, especially for patients over the age of 50. If there is already a genetic disposition to colon cancer in the family, the examination should be carried out every 5 years.

Frequencies Polyps