Colon Condition Hyperplastic Colon Polyps What is a hyperplastic colon polyp? A hyperplastic colon polyp is the most common Definitions colon polyp. About 90 percent of colon polyps are hyperplastic; most of the remaining 10 percent Colon: The section Patient Education Series provided by Professional Pathologyare adenomas Services, (adenomatous PC polyps). Most of the large intestine colon cancers arise from adenomatous polyps, leading from the small not hyperplastic polyps. Serrated adenomas intestine to the rectum. have characteristics of both adenomatous and hyperplastic polyps. Colon ConditionHyperplastic: The While hyperplastic colon polyps are benign, recent proliferation of cells research has linked some hyperplastic colon polyps Hyperplastic Colon Polypsbeyond the normal and serrated adenomas, especially large polyps range. foundColon on the colon’s Condition right side, to colon cancer. Most hyperplastic polyps are small and are found on the Hyperplastic colon polyp. left Hyperplasticside of the colon and Colon are not associatedPolyps with an increased risk Polyp: A benign of colon cancer. If a cancerous polyp is detected early, the five-year tumor found in What is a hyperplastic colon polyp? What is a hyperplastic colon polyp? survivalA hyperplastic rate is 70 colon to 80 polyp percent. is the most common the colon.Definitions Some colon polyp. About 90 percent of colon polyps are A hyperplastic colon polyp is the typesmost commonof polyps cancolon polyp. About 90 percent of colon Whohyperplastic; is most likelymost of to the have remaining hyperplastic 10 percent colon polyps? polyps are hyperplastic; most of thebecome remainingColon: cancerous The 10 section percent if Personsareare adenomas adenomas between (adenomatous (adenomatousage 50 and 70 polyps). are most Most likely to have hyperplastic colon polyps. They can polyps). Most colon cancers ariseundetected fromof adenomatousthe large or ignored. intestine polyps, affectcolon not individuals hyperplastic cancers ariseof any polyps.from age, adenomatous however. Some polyps, individuals have a genetic tendency to develop Serrated adenomas have characteristicsleading of both from adenomatous the small colonnot and polyps hyperplastic hyperplastic of various polyps. polyps.types. Serrated Conditions adenomas such as hyperplastic polyposis syndrome, familial Benign:intestine Not to the rectum.adenomatoushave characteristics polyposis of (FAP), both adenomatous or Gardner’s and syndrome can cause multiple polyps to form. While hyperplastic colon polypscancerous. are benign, recent researchPolypshyperplastic has also linked are polyps.associated some with a diet high in fat and beef and low in fiber. Other risk factors hyperplastic colon polyps and serratedHyperplastic: adenomas, especiallyThe are smoking,largeWhile polyps hyperplastic a lack found of exercise colon on the polyps resulting are benign,in weight recent gain, and having an ongoing inflammatory research has linked some hyperplastic colon polyps proliferation A of cells bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Hyperplastic colon polyp. colon’s right side, to colon cancer.Pathologist: Most hyperplastic polyps areand small serrated and adenomas, are found especially on large polyps physicianbeyond who the normal the left side of the colon and are not associatedrange. with an increasedfound risk on the of coloncolon’s cancer. right side, If to colon cancer. Most examines tissues and What characterizes hyperplastic polyps are small and are found on the Hyperplastic colon polyp. a cancerous polyp is detected early,fluids the five-yearsurvivalto diagnose hyperplasticrateleft is side70 to of the80 colon colonpercent. polyps?and are not associated with an increased risk Polyp: A benign disease in order Hyperplasticof colon cancer. colon Ifpolyps a cancerous usually polyp are located is detected in early, the five-year tumor found in to assist in making the survivalrectum rateor lower is 70 section to 80 percent. of the colon. Small Who is most likely to have hyperplasticthe colon. colon Some polyps? hyperplastic polyps are usually detected during treatment decisions. Persons between age 50 and 70 are mosttypes likely of polyps to have can hyperplastic screeningWho is colonosopycolon most polyps.likely and to They haveare biopsied can hyperplastic affect to make colon polyps? individuals of any age, however. Somebecome individuals cancerous have if a geneticsurePersons that tendency they between are not to age developadenomatous 50 and colon 70 are polyps. most likelyPolyps to have hyperplastic colon polyps. They can undetected or ignored.growaffect slowly individuals and some of anymay age, continue however. to grow Some if individualsnot have a genetic tendency to develop polyps of various types.detected Conditionscolon polypsand removed. such of various as hyperplastic types. Conditions such as hyperplastic polyposis syndrome, familial polyposisBenign: syndrome, Not familial adenomatous adenomatous polyposis polyposis (FAP), or (FAP), Gardner’s syndrome can cause multiple polyps to form. Definitions or Gardner’scancerous. syndromeHow canPolyps causedo the also multiple primary are associated polyps care withphysicianto form. a diet high in fat and beef and low in fiberNormal. Other risk colon factors cells. andare the smoking, pathologist a lack of make exercise a diagnosis? resulting in weight gain, and having an ongoing inflammatory PolypsPathologist: also are A associated Becausebowel with hyperplasticdiseasea diet high such inpolyps as fat ulcerative and do notbeef colitis present or Crohn’s disease. Colon: andphysician low in fibe. who Other symptoms,risk factors most are aresmoking, found duringa lack a ofcolonoscopy exercise resulting to in weight gain, and What characterizes The section of the large havingexamines an ongoing tissues andinflammatorybowel detect polyps or for otherdisease conditions. such as Onceulcerative a polyp colitis is or Crohn’s disease. fluids to diagnose found,hyperplastic a physician colon can remove polyps? it, usually as part of a intestine leading from Hyperplastic colon polyps usually are located in Copyrightdisease © 2011. in order colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy procedure. Normal colon cells. the small intestine to the Whatto assist characterizes in making hyperplasticA pathologistthe rectum examinescolonor lower polyps? section the removed of the colon. tissue, Small or biopsy specimen, more College of American hyperplastic polyps are usually detected during Pathologists.treatment For decisions. use and closely in the laboratory to determine the type of polyp and whether or rectum. Hyperplastic colon polypsscreening usually arecolonosopy located inand the are rectum biopsied or to lower make section of the reproduction by patients not the growth is cancerous. sure that they are not adenomatous polyps. Polyps andcolon. CAP membersSmall hyperplastic only. (continued polyps onare next usually page) detected during screening colonosopy Hyperplastic: and are biopsied to make suregrow thatslowly they and are some not may adenomatous continue to grow polyps. if not Polyps grow detected and removed. The proliferation of cells slowly and some may continue to grow if not detected and removed. beyond the normal range. How do the primary care physician How do the primary careand physician the pathologist and the makepathologist a diagnosis? make a diagnosis? Because hyperplastic polyps do not present Polyp: Because hyperplastic polypssymptoms, do not mostpresent are symptoms,found during mosta colonoscopy are found to during a colonoscopy A benign tumor found in the to detect polyps or for otherdetect conditions. polyps or Oncefor other a polyp conditions. is found, Once aa physicianpolyp is can remove it, usually as part of a colonoscopyfound, a physician or flexible can sigmoidoscopy remove it, usually procedure.as part of a A pathologist colon. Some types of polyps Copyright © 2011. colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy procedure. Normal colon cells. can become cancerous if examinesCollege of the American removed tissue,A pathologist or biopsy examines specimen, the removed more closely tissue, inor biopsythe laboratory specimen, to more determinePathologists. the For type use ofand polyp closely and inwhether the laboratory or not to the determine growth the is cancerous.type of polyp and whether or undetected or ignored. reproduction by patients not the growth is cancerous. and CAP members only. (continued on next page) Benign: What else does the pathologist look for? Not cancerous. Rarely, a large hyperplastic polyp or serrated adenoma will contain cancerous cells. If the polyp contains cancerous cells, the pathologist makes a diagnosis–most likely colon cancer–and notes how Pathologist: close the cancer is to the edge of the removed tissue, and whether or not the tumor invaded blood or A physician who examines lymphatic vessels. These factors help physicians determine the likelihood of the cancer remaining in tissues and fluids to or returning to the affected area. In some situations, physicians may order imaging tests including a diagnose disease in order chest x-ray or CT scan to see if the tumor has spread to the lungs, lymph nodes, liver, or ovaries. to assist in making For more information, go to www.cancer.org (American Cancer Society) or http://emedicine.medscape.com treatment decisions. (eMedicine, a division of Web MD). Type the keywords hyperplastic colon polyp into the search box.

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© 2011 College of American Pathologists Reproduced for patients with permission from CAP.