Adenomatous polyps (adenomas) of the colon and rectum are benign (noncancerous) growths, but may be precursor lesions to colorectal cancer. Polyps greater than ...TolearnmoreaboutCOVID-19andtheeffortsourparentcompany,QuestDiagnosticsisdoing,clickhere.AdenomatousPolypsBackgroundInformation:Polypsareabnormalgrowthsrisingfromtheliningofthelargeintestine(colon)thatprotrudeintotheintestinalcanal(lumen).Mostpolypsarebenign(noncancerous)andcausenosymptoms.Mostbenignpolypsareclassifiedasoneoftwotypes:adenomatous(adenomas)andhyperplastic.Adenomatouspolyps(adenomas)ofthecolonandrectumarebenign(noncancerous)growths,butmaybeprecursorlesionstocolorectalcancer.Polypsgreaterthanonecentimeterindiameterareassociatedwithagreaterriskofcancer.Ifpolypsarenotremoved,theycontinuetogrowandcanbecomecancerous.Colorectalpolypsarerathercommon,withapproximately50percentofpeopleage60orolderhavingoneormoreadenomatouspolyps;however,onlysixpercentofthesepeopledevelopcoloncancer.Patientsmayhavemorethanonepolyp,andtheriskofhavingpolypsincreaseswithage.Thechanceofhavingpolypsisalsoincreasedinpatientswithafamilyhistoryofcolorectalpolypsorcolorectalcancer,includinginheriteddisorderssuchasGardner’ssyndromeandfamilialadenomatouspolyposis.Adenomastypicallycausefewsymptoms;however,painlessrectalbleedingisthemostcommonsymptom.Thereisnoknownwaytopreventpolyps,buttheyareeasilyremovedbycolonoscopy,whicheliminatestheriskofcancerinmostcases.Thesurgicalpathologistestablishesthediagnosisofadenomabymicroscopicexaminationofabiopsyspecimenandalsodetermineswhetherthetissuecontainscancerorotherdisease.Thisinformationisessentialindeterminingiffurthertreatmentisnecessaryand,ifso,whatkindwillbemostbeneficial.TreatmentOptionsforAdenomas:Colonoscopy–Acolonoscopymaybeperformedinanoutpatientsurgicalfacility.Throughtheuseofacolonoscope,aphysiciancanviewtheliningofthecolonandremoveindividualpolypsviaabiopsyanessentiallypainlessprocedure.Somelargepolypsmayrequiresurgicalremoval.Follow-upColonoscopy–Additionalcolonoscopies,overtim