Large intestine polyps refer to the proliferation of mucosal tissue within the wall of the large intestine, forming abnormal elevations. The vast majority are benign in the early stages, but some polyps may grow and/or develop into cancer over time. Under colonoscopy, they come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters.

The following factors may be related to the malignant transformation of intestinal polyps:

The following risk factors may be associated with the growth and malignant transformation of colorectal polyps. And the larger the colon polyps grow, the higher the chance of cancer.

• Age increase

• Diagnosis of long-term intestinal inflammation

• Genetic mutations and inheritance (family history of colorectal cancer)

Men (higher risk than women)

• Metabolic related factors such as overweight and obesity

• Dietary habits such as high oil and fat content, preference for meat and less vegetables

• Regularly consume pickled products

• Smoking and alcohol
 

1、 Classification and presentation of intestinal polyps

01 Common Categories

Large intestine polyps are usually asymptomatic and can be detected and removed during colonoscopy. The most common pathological types are adenomatous polyps and hyperplastic polyps. The risk of proliferative polyps is relatively low, while adenomatous polyps have varying degrees of cancer tendency and should be removed as soon as possible.

 

02 Performance

The vast majority of colorectal polyps have no diagnosis. If the polyps grow and ulcerate, possible symptoms may include mucus or blood in the stool, red stripes or black in the stool, unexplained constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue and difficulty breathing due to iron deficiency anemia caused by blood loss.

 

If the above symptoms appear, it is recommended to seek medical attention in a timely manner and undergo further examination and treatment under the guidance of a doctor, such as completing colonoscopy examination and removing colon polyps under the microscope.
 

 

2、 Do I need to undergo colorectal cancer screening or colonoscopy?

Over the past 30 years, colorectal cancer has imposed a heavy burden on society and healthcare. If you are considering whether to undergo colorectal cancer screening or colonoscopy, you can first pay attention to whether you have the above related risk factors and suspicious symptoms.

If you already have relevant symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible;

If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or belong to a high-risk group, you can start getting checked at a younger age, and the frequency of checks should be more frequent than the general population;

For individuals without any risk factors or symptoms, they should also undergo colorectal cancer screening between the ages of 50 and 75.

At Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital, we conduct a thorough preoperative evaluation to determine if the client is suitable for gastroscopy and avoid unnecessary examinations and treatments.

 

3、 What are the contents of colorectal cancer screening?

There are roughly three methods for examining the large intestine using colonoscopy, including flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and double contrast barium enema. If the general public does not have any symptoms of colon polyps or colon cancer and wishes to undergo regular spontaneous intestinal examinations, they can first consult a doctor to learn about the details and risks of various endoscopic examinations, and then decide on their own suitable method of colon endoscopy examination.

 

The generally recommended screening contents for colorectal cancer include:

01 Fecal occult blood test

The first step is to check for trace amounts of blood in the stool that are not visible to the naked eye. This non-invasive screening method is simple and only requires collecting fecal samples by oneself and returning them to the collection point.

 

02 Colonoscopy examination

If the fecal occult blood test result is positive, further colonoscopy (colonoscopy) examination is required. Colonoscopy is the most effective diagnostic method for colorectal polyps, and if the doctor discovers polyps during the examination, they can be removed together.

 

4、 Is there a risk associated with colonoscopy?

There are roughly two types of endoscopic examinations, including colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. The risk level of two types of large intestine endoscopes is similar, for example, during the process of entering the intestine, the endoscope may touch the intestinal flesh or its mucosa, causing slight bleeding. In addition, some individuals with intestinal diseases may have thinner intestines, with a chance of puncturing the intestinal wall of about one in a thousand, but the risk level is relatively low and generally does not need to be overly concerned.

 

01 Colonoscopy

The doctor will insert a soft and flexible endoscope from the anus into the intestine and examine the entire intestine in real-time to observe the condition or lesions inside the intestine.

 

02 Sigmoid Colonoscopy

The examination method of sigmoidoscopy is roughly the same as that of colonoscopy, but the scope of examination and treatment is limited to the position of the sigmoid colon about 45-60 centimeters from the end of the large intestine.

 

It is generally recommended to undergo a thorough colonoscopy every five years; After undergoing colonoscopy, a sigmoidoscopy can be performed every two years for re examination.
 

Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital has an independent rest room and vital sign monitoring after surgery. If there are any abnormalities, medical staff can arrive as soon as possible.

 

Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Endoscopy Center

Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Endoscopy Center is led by a team of senior gastroenterologists who adhere to a customer-centric service philosophy and provide comfortable and painless gastrointestinal endoscopy diagnosis and treatment services. We are equipped with Olympus hosts, which are at the forefront of the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy diagnosis and treatment. At the same time, the department adopts a reservation system, providing independent consultation rooms and rest rooms, daily results, and synchronized polyp removal services during the examination process, providing customers with a convenient and fast experience, safeguarding patient privacy, and saving patient time.

 

Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Team

Our oncology diagnosis and treatment team includes oncology specialists, oncology internal medicine, oncology radiotherapy, oncology surgery, as well as medical staff with backgrounds in imaging, general practice, internal medicine, surgery, clinical pharmacy, nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine, psychiatry, oncology nurses, and other departments, forming a professional multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment team (MDT). We can provide customers with cancer diagnosis full cycle services, including tumor screening, medication and surgical treatment, and continuous care and monitoring after treatment.