What are the symptoms of rectal polyps?
Rectal polyps due to proctitis are generally benign lesions, so the symptoms are not obvious. Some patients may have no specific symptoms and polyps are incidentally found during routine physical examinations or colonoscopies where proctitis is seen in conjunction with polyps. Of course, a small number of patients may experience abdominal discomfort and abnormal bowel movements. The abdominal discomfort generally focuses on the lower abdomen, or occurs sporadically in the lower left abdomen, and can manifest as bloating pain, dull pain, or an unexplained discomfort. The abnormality in bowel movements can be seen as stools being more liquid-like and frequent, with some patients having watery stools, but there are no symptoms of fever or bloody stools. Therefore, the symptoms of rectal polyps from proctitis are usually not obvious and can be further clarified through colonoscopic examination. If the rectal polyps are not large, periodic observation with colonoscopy every six months to a year may be advised. Of course, if the polyps grow larger or symptoms become pronounced, treatment through endoscopic removal may be chosen.