Polyps of the colon and rectum Polyps of the colon and rectum Polyp refers to any mass of tissue that arises from the bowel wall and protrudes into the lumen . Polyps my be sessile or pedunculated and vary considerably in size. Polyps, often multiple, occur most commonly in the rectum and sigmoid colon, and in decreasing frequency toward the cecum. The cancer risk of tubular adenomas is controversial, but strong evidence suggests that they can become malignant. Risk of malignancy is related to size.
Most polyps are asymptomatic.
Rectal bleeding is the most frequent complaint. Cramps, abdominal pain, or obstruction may be signs of a large lesion. Occasionally a polyp on a long pedicle will prolapse through the anus. Large villous adenomas may cause profuse watery diarrhea. Rectal polyps may be palpable by digital examination but usually are discovered by endoscopy.