Polyps, Colonic

Key Features

Essentials of Diagnosis

• Discrete mass lesions that are flat or protrude into the intestinal lumen

• Most commonly sporadic, may be inherited as part of familial polyposis syndrome

• Of polyps removed at colonoscopy, over 70% are adenomatous; most of the remainder are serrated; distinguished by histology

General Considerations

• Four major pathological groups

  • Mucosal adenomatous polyps (tubular, tubulovillous, villous)

  • Mucosal serrated polyps (hyperplastic, sessile serrated polyp, traditional serrated adenoma)

  • Mucosal nonneoplastic polyps (juvenile polyps, hamartomas, inflammatory polyps)

  • Submucosal lesions (lipomas, lymphoid aggregates, carcinoids, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis)

• Adenomas and serrated polyps may be flat, sessile, or pedunculated (containing a stalk)

  • They are present in 30% of adults over 50 years of age

  • Their significance is that over 95% of cases of adenocarcinoma of the colon are believed to arise from these lesions

• Sessile serrated polyps and traditional serrated adenomas may harbor an increased risk of colorectal cancer similar or greater to that of adenomas and account for up to 20–30% of colorectal cancers

• Small hyperplastic polyps (< 5 mm) located in the rectum are extremely common and believed to be without significant risk

Clinical Findings

Symptoms and Signs

• Usually asymptomatic

• Chronic occult blood loss may lead to iron deficiency anemia

• Large polyps may ulcerate, resulting in intermittent hematochezia

Differential Diagnosis

• Colorectal cancer

• Nonneoplastic polyp, eg, small hyperplastic, inflammatory

• Submucosal polyp, eg, lipoma, lymphoid aggregate

• Other causes of occult gastrointestinal bleeding, eg, arteriovenous malformation, inflammatory bowel disease

Diagnosis

Laboratory Tests

• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT), fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and fecal DNA tests

• FIT is more sensitive than prior guaiac-based FOBT for the detection of colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas

• Combination fecal DNA and FIT for stool hemoglobin (proprietary name: "Cologuard"); in a prospective comparative trial

  • Sensitivity for colorectal cancer for "Cologuard" was 92.3% compared to 73.8% for FIT

  • Sensitivity for large (> 1 cm) adenomas or serrated polyps for "Cologuard" was 42.4% compared to 23.8% for FIT

Imaging Studies

• CT colonography ("virtual colonoscopy")

  • Has a sensitivity of ≥ 90% for the detection of polyps > 10 mm in size

  • However, the accuracy for detection of polyps 5–9 mm in size is significantly lower (sensitivity 50%)

Diagnostic Procedures

• Colonoscopy is best means of detecting and removing adenomatous and serrated polyps

• Capsule endoscopy of the colon

  • Has an 86% sensitivity and 88% specificity for detection of adenomas > 6 mm compared with colonoscopy

  • Has 29% sensitivity and 33% specificity for sessile serrated polyps

  • May be considered in patients with an incomplete colonoscopy or those who are unsuitable or unwilling to undergo ...