Do inflammatory gastric polyps need to be removed?

Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 12, 2024
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Gastric polyps are relatively common in clinical practice, and generally, patients do not exhibit specific symptoms. They are often discovered during physical examinations or incidental gastroscopic exams. When numerous or particularly large gastric polyps are present, a gastroscopic biopsy is usually conducted at the same time as the gastroscopy. If the pathology biopsy indicates that the polyp is an inflammatory gastric polyp, especially if it is small, less than 1 centimeter, we recommend regular observation without actively pursuing endoscopic removal. Some patients' inflammatory polyps may regress on their own. For treatment, one can choose gastric protective medication for symptomatic observation, with a gastroscopy follow-up every six months to a year. Of course, if the polyp is considered to be inflammatory and particularly large, greater than two centimeters, we recommend removal by endoscopy as a precautionary measure, despite the fact that the risk of cancer transformation in gastric polyps is relatively small but possible.

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Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
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How to deal with vomiting caused by gastric polyps?

If you have a gastric polyp and experience nausea and vomiting, symptomatic treatment can be used, including medications that aid digestion and regulate the stomach and spleen. Also, medications to control the symptoms of vomiting can be taken orally. In severe cases, it may also be necessary to go to a hospital for an antiemetic injection. It is essential to undergo a gastroscopy to determine the size of the polyp and to perform a pathological biopsy to check for malignant changes. Additionally, it is important to remove the polyp promptly, as long-term presence of the polyp in the body can easily lead to malignant transformation.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Do gastric polyps require surgery?

Gastric polyps are relatively common in clinical settings. Generally, patients do not exhibit symptoms and discover the condition either during physical examinations or incidental gastroscopic examinations. Of course, a small portion of patients may experience certain gastrointestinal symptoms, manifesting as dull pain in the upper abdomen, bloating, nausea, etc. The treatment for gastric polyps generally varies depending on the location, size, and number of the polyps. If the polyps are small, particularly less than 0.5 cm, it is recommended that patients undergo regular observations and gastroscopic examinations every six months to a year. If there are no significant changes in the polyps, symptomatic treatment may not be immediately necessary. However, if the polyps are larger, especially if they are numerous or larger than 1 cm, it is advisable for patients to have them removed via gastroscopy for biopsy to rule out the possibility of malignant changes. Therefore, for patients with gastric polyps, it is recommended to have regular follow-ups and consider endoscopic removal, which is generally a relatively safe procedure that should not be overly worrisome.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Are stomach polyps likely to lead to stomach cancer?

Gastric polyps are precancerous lesions of gastric cancer, posing a significant risk of developing gastric cancer. There are several types of gastric polyps, including fundic gland polyps, hyperplastic polyps, and adenomatous polyps. Adenomatous polyps, in particular, have a higher rate of malignant transformation, with 11% of patients developing gastric cancer through dysplastic growth over four years. Therefore, patients with gastric polyps should undergo early removal under gastroscopy, followed by pathological classification. After treatment, regular gastroscopic examinations are necessary. It is also important to adjust the diet, avoid eating moldy food, and reduce consumption of salty and pickled foods, while increasing intake of fresh foods, fresh green vegetables, and fruits, and maintaining a positive mental attitude.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Symptoms of gastric polyps

Gastric polyps are also relatively common in clinical practice, especially in gastroenterology outpatient clinics. Gastric polyps generally do not show symptoms, and are found in patients undergoing gastroscopic examinations or physical check-ups. Typically, gastric polyps are not large. However, a small proportion may be accompanied by abdominal discomfort, manifesting as hidden upper abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, belching, and so on. The treatment of gastric polyps can generally be divided into two types. For the first type, where the polyps are small, some less than 0.5 cm, regular observation can be adopted, with a gastroscopy performed every six months to a year. If the patient experiences abdominal discomfort, symptomatic treatment can be given, along with medications to protect the stomach and promote digestion. However, if the patient has multiple polyps, especially larger ones exceeding 1 cm, it is advisable to undergo a gastroscopic polypectomy, followed by regular follow-up visits. The results are generally good and there is no need for excessive concern.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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What should I do if a gastric polyp becomes cancerous?

If gastric polyps undergo malignant transformation, we generally refer to it as malignant tumors of the stomach, commonly known as gastric cancer. However, treatment varies depending on the size and extent of the malignant transformation of the gastric polyps. Generally, endoscopic resection is the preferred method of treatment. However, if the gastric polyps have become significantly large or deeply infiltrative, we recommend surgical intervention, such as partial gastrectomy under laparoscopy. Gastric polyps are relatively common in clinical settings, and most of them are benign. Of course, over time, a small percentage of patients may develop malignancy, commonly known as gastric cancer. Typically, for gastric cancer, endoscopic resection is the primary treatment choice, supplemented by laparoscopic surgery removal. Furthermore, if the patient shows lymphatic spread, it is considered progressive gastric cancer, and in addition to surgery, chemotherapy can be considered. Generally, the treatment outcomes for early-stage gastric cancer are quite favorable, hence it is recommended that patients pursue proactive treatment.