Removal of anal and rectal polyps

What Are Anal and Rectal Polyps?

Anal and rectal polyps are pedunculated formations that develop on the mucous membrane of the large intestine.

The rectum is the final section of the large intestine, where the last stage of processing digested food occurs, followed by the elimination of its residues from the body. The surface of the large intestine is covered by glandular epithelium that produces mucus. Any protrusion of this epithelium into the interior of the rectum is called a polyp.

Polyps are most often benign neoplastic lesions that usually do not cause any symptoms. Therefore, it is very important to perform appropriate preventive examinations that allow for the diagnosis and removal of polyps. This is especially important for individuals with a genetic predisposition, where cases of colorectal cancer arising from polyps have occurred in the family.

Symptoms of Polyps

Based on their structure, polyps can be divided into:

• Adenomatous – polyps that can transform into malignant lesions within 10-12 years,
• Hyperplastic – polyps that most often develop in the rectum and carry a significantly lower risk of malignant transformation,
• Hamartomatous – polyps that occur in genetically conditioned polyposis syndromes,
• Pseudopolyps – polyps that develop as a result of ulcerative colitis.

Pain rarely accompanies anal polyps. It may occur simultaneously with an anal fissure, or if the polyp has prolapsed outside the anal canal and the sphincter compresses the polyp stalk, or if the polyp is trapped in a fistula tract.

If a patient notices concerning symptoms, they should consult a specialist as soon as possible, as such symptoms may indicate the development of colorectal cancer.

However, most polyps cause no symptoms and are detected during preventive examinations. Large lesions may manifest as:

• changes in bowel movement rhythm
• constipation
• diarrhea
• stools mixed with mucus and blood
• a feeling of urgency to defecate
• abdominal pain
• anemia