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Treatment of Colon Polyps


Treatment

No drug therapy is proven or recommended for colonic polyps. Surgical removal of polyp is the treatment commonly employed. It is called polypectomy.

Owing to the potential to turn malignant, it is imperative that all cases of colon polyp receive proper attention. Polyp tissue should be sent for microscopic study by a pathologist to look for cancerous changes. Treatment for polyps includes:

  • Medical

No drug therapy is proven or recommended for colonic polyps.

Some studies support the view that medical treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) decreases the number and the size of colonic polyp. These are drugs commonly used to relieve pain, fever and reduce inflammation. However, these drugs are yet to be included in treatment regimen.

Aspirin is thought to be beneficial in reducing the incidence of recurrent colonic polyps. More conclusive studies are awaited.

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  • Surgery

Surgical removal of polyp is the treatment commonly employed. It is called polypectomy. Solitary polyps are removed while visualising them using a colonoscope. Colonoscopic removal is also accompanied by the search for other polyps.

In cases of multiple polyps in diseases like Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), or sessile polyps that are difficult to remove, colonic resection may be performed. In this procedure, a part of the colon is removed.

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