Colon polyps are growths in the colon or rectum. The cause of
most colon polyps is not known.
A certain type of polyp called an
adenomatous polyp is more likely than other types to develop into cancer over
time.
Most polyps do not cause symptoms. But large polyps are
more likely than small polyps to cause symptoms such as rectal bleeding or
pain.
Colon polyps are diagnosed through screening tests. These
tests include stool tests, such as the fecal occult blood test (FOBT), the
fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and the stool DNA test (sDNA). They also
include tests that look inside the body, such as flexible sigmoidoscopy,
colonoscopy, and computed tomographic colonography (also called a virtual
colonoscopy). Polyps can be removed or samples of tissue (biopsies) can be
taken during flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. Early diagnosis of
adenomatous polyps may help prevent cancer or identify cancer at a stage when
it might be more successfully treated.