diagnosis and management
Last edited 05/2021 and last reviewed 05/2021
The diagnosis and management of colonic polyps consist of:
- history and examination
Possible investigations:
- sigmoidoscopy: about half of colonic polyps are within reach of the rigid 25cm instrument. Use of a fibreoptic sigmoidoscope allow the colon to be examined as far as the splenic flexure and any polyps can be removed at the same time with a diathermy snare.
- colonoscopy allows polyp identification and removal
- computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is an alternative, less invasive test; if a polyp is identified then will require subsequent colonoscopy to remove and identify histology
- histology; vital because:
- reveals whether the whole polyp was removed
- reveals whether the polyp was malignant
- barium enemas
- will show polyps of significant size
- may not be possible to see the whole colon well - this is particularly true of the transverse colon