Should gastric polyps be removed?

Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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Gastric polyps are relatively common in clinical practice. For patients with gastric polyps, regular follow-up visits are the main focus, especially when the polyps are small, and particularly when they are less than 0.5 centimeters in size. We recommend that these patients have regular follow-up appointments, with a gastroscopy examination about every six months to a year being appropriate. Of course, if a patient has a history of gastric cancer and develops gastric polyps, especially larger ones over 1 centimeter in size, we recommend aggressive endoscopic removal. After removal, the polyps should be sent for examination to clarify their nature. Subsequent regular follow-up appointments are also necessary, typically involving a gastroscopy check every six months to a year. If gastric polyps continue to form, aggressive endoscopic removal treatment is advised. Therefore, treatment choices for gastric polyps vary depending on the size, location, and nature of the polyp, with regular follow-up as the primary approach and endoscopic removal when necessary.

Other Voices

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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 Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Can stomach polyps cause bleeding?

With the increasing popularity of gastroscopy, the detection rate of gastric polyps is rising year by year. Gastric polyps refer to the protrusions from the gastric mucosa into the gastric cavity, forming either round or semi-circular elevations. They are usually benign lesions, including hyperplastic polyps and adenomatous polyps. However, adenomatous polyps can potentially become cancerous and require prompt attention. If a polyp becomes eroded, it may cause a small amount of bleeding, but this generally does not lead to blood in the stool. Blood in the stool typically refers to intestinal bleeding, which can appear as bright red, dark red, or even jam-like or purplish colors. This is often caused by diseases around the anus or colon diseases, such as polyp ulceration or even tumors, etc., which should not have a significant connection with gastric polyps.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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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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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Gastric polyps should see which department?

Gastric polyps are a common clinical symptom, generally handled in hospitals, and can be treated in the department of gastroenterology. First, if the gastric polyp is asymptomatic and small, it can be periodically observed with follow-up visits in the gastroenterology outpatient clinic. Second, if the gastric polyp is large and has complications such as bleeding on the surface, gastrointestinal endoscopy can be chosen for examination and endoscopic treatment in the department of gastroenterology. If the gastric polyp does not have other symptoms but is accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating, etc., symptomatic treatment in gastroenterology can be chosen, including pain relief and stomach protection. Therefore, if gastric polyps are found, the first choice is symptomatic treatment in gastroenterology, or endoscopic treatment can be selected.

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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.