Colon polyp

Diagnosis

Screening for colon polyp

Some screening tests aims to find polyps or noncancerous colon polyps, which are advised to healthy people who have no symptoms. The advantage of detecting colon cancer at the early stage will give patient a significant chance of being cured.  There has been some evidence that screening tests can reduce the risk of death from colon cancer.

Diagnosing colon polyp

In order to diagnose colon polyps, the following procedures may be recommended:

• Colonoscopy: an investigation which consists of inserting a flexible thin tube connected to a tiny camera, which will be inserted into a patient’s bowel to evaluate the colon and rectum to examine for any signs of cancer. If any unusual signs are detected, a surgical tool will be inserted through the scope to take out a sample of the colon’s tissue or polyp for examination under a microscope to look for cancer cells.
• Computed tomography colonography (CT colonography): is a minimal invasive imaging scan used to screen the colonic polyp or colon cancer. If the CT scan shows suggestive of polyp, the doctor will have to remove the polyp using colonoscopy for examination under a microscope to look for cancer but this modality is limited if people size is less than 5 mm
• Sigmoidoscopy: a thin and flexible tube is inserted to rectum to sigmoid colon for examination same as colonoscopy but some part of Colon won’t be evaluated
• Stool-test: a stool sample is taken and will be examine for blood for any signs of colon polyp or colon cancer. If there are presence of any signs of the diseases then colonoscopy is recommended for confirmation of the disease. Stool test is noninvasive, easy to performed and cheap but this test is not accurate and patient has to repeat this test more frequently than other modality

Treatment

The common treatment for colon polyp is the surgical removal of the polyp. Sample will be taken for tissue biopsy to determine whether the polyp is cancerous.

• Polypectomy: is a surgical procedure during a colonoscopy which removes the polyp using a forceps or a wire loop.
• Minimally invasive surgery: is done to remove the polyp that cannot be operated during colonoscopy. This operation is done by making a few small incisions in the abdominal wall, while medical equipment that has cameras attached, will be inserted to remove the segment of Colon that contain polyp.
• Total proctocolectomy: is a surgical removal of the colon and the rectum. This procedure is recommended if the patient have Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (a rare genetic condition). Colostomy and ileostomy may serve as the new exit point of stool.