Are stomach polyps scary?

Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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As people's living conditions continue to improve and medical technology advances, the general public's demand for better health is increasing, correspondingly raising the rate of routine gastroscopic examinations. Therefore, the incidence of gastric polyps has significantly increased compared to the past. Discovering gastric polyps is not necessarily alarming. There are adenomatous polyps and hyperplastic polyps; only adenomatous polyps, if left untreated over a long period, might develop into malignant tumors. Generally, if polyps are detected and treated in a timely manner, there should be no issues. Polyps can be excised under gastroscopy, a procedure that is minimally invasive, quick, and has few side effects. After treatment, regular gastroscopic follow-ups can be conducted without major concerns.

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Is it serious if a gastric polyp becomes ulcerated?

A deteriorated gastric polyp is quite serious. Once a gastric polyp has deteriorated, active treatment is necessary because if not promptly treated, it could lead to complications such as bleeding, infection, or perforation, which could endanger the patient's life. Once a gastric polyp is definitively diagnosed, proactive intervention such as polyp removal is needed. Endoscopic polypectomy can be performed. If the polyp is large and has a wide base, making it difficult to remove via endoscopy, then surgical intervention may be required.

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Can stomach polyps be felt by touch?

Gastric polyps are relatively common in gastroenterology and are generally asymptomatic. However, if the polyps are relatively large or numerous, symptoms such as early satiety, abdominal distension, and nausea may occur. Gastric polyps cannot be detected through physical examination, which generally yields negative results. There may be some abdominal tenderness, but gastric polyps cannot be detected through physical examination. The diagnosis of gastric polyps primarily relies on completing a gastroscopic examination, which can provide reference values for the size, scope, and quantity of the polyps. Therefore, gastric polyps cannot be detected by physical examination, and it is recommended to complete a gastroscopic examination for further clarification. Thus, as mentioned above, gastric polyps cannot be detected by physical examination; a comprehensive gastroscopic examination is recommended.

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Do stomach polyps need treatment?

The treatment of gastric polyps generally depends on the size and number of the polyps. If the gastric polyp is relatively small, conservative treatment and regular follow-up are usually sufficient. If there is no change in the polyp during regular gastroscopy follow-ups, we generally do not need to intervene. However, if the polyps increase in number or size, especially if they are larger than 1 centimeter, we recommend that patients undergo timely endoscopic treatment. Typically, endoscopic removal is sufficient. In fact, gastric polyps are relatively common in clinical practice, and most gastric polyps are benign lesions. Prompt endoscopic removal is usually sufficient. Most patients may not have specific discomforts, such as abdominal pain, etc. Gastric polyps are often found incidentally during gastroscopy or physical examinations. Therefore, for the diagnosis of gastric polyps, we mainly rely on gastroscopy.

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Are there many people with gastric polyps?

Gastric polyps are relatively common in clinical settings and have a higher incidence, so patients should not feel overly burdened psychologically. Clinically, gastric polyps are often identified when patients seek medical help for abdominal discomfort and undergo gastroscopy. The main symptoms include discomfort in the upper abdomen, such as bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, and belching. Gastric polyps are generally considered benign lesions, and regular follow-up examinations are usually sufficient. During these follow-ups, if it is found that the polyps have increased in number or size, especially if they are larger than one centimeter, they can then be removed through endoscopic surgery. Most patients can tolerate this well and it is considered a safe and effective method for diagnosis and treatment, so patients should not be overly concerned or overthink the situation. The occurrence of gastric polyps is increasingly observed clinically, primarily through gastroscopy, and it is recommended to undergo a gastroscopy every six months to a year for follow-up.

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Symptoms of gastric polyps

Gastric polyps are also relatively common in clinical practice, especially in the outpatient department of gastroenterology. The symptoms of gastric polyps can generally be divided into several types. The first type is asymptomatic; patients undergo gastroscopy due to abdominal discomfort or incidental findings, discovering gastric polyps that are generally small, usually less than 0.5 cm. From a treatment perspective, regular observation can be sufficient without intervention, and a gastroscopy recheck every six months to a year is advisable. However, a small portion of patients may experience certain symptoms such as nausea, early satiety, burping, and belching, etc. Generally, the symptoms are mild and do not affect daily life or sleep, so there is no need for undue concern. The treatment of gastric polyps generally falls into two categories; the first is regular observation, possibly because the polyps are relatively small; the second, if the polyps are larger, or if they have been found to increase in size during regular check-ups, considering removal through endoscopy might be necessary.