What are Gastric Polyps?
Gastric polyps, also known as stomach polyps, are growths that form in the lining of the stomach and are usually non-cancerous. In some cases, these growths can develop into cancerous polyps, however. These growths are fairly rare.
Causes of Gastric Polyps:
What causes gastric polyps to form is not always clear but are commonly synonymous with chronic inflammation of the stomach lining, infection with H. pylori bacteria, or other genetic conditions like familiar adenomatous polyposis. Older adults and those taking certain stomach medications are at higher risk for developing gastric polyps.
Symptoms of Gastric Polyps:
Symptoms of gastric polyps can include the following:
- Indigestion
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blood in the stool
- Tenderness when pressing on the stomach
- Anemia
It’s important to note, however, that not everyone with gastric polyps will experience adverse symptoms. In these types of cases, the polyps are typically discovered incidentally during an endoscopy or imaging tests for other reasons.
Diagnosing Gastric Polyps:
Diagnosing gastric polyps will typically involve an upper endoscopy, or EGD, which is where a thin flexible tube with a camera is inserted through the mouth to further examine the stomach lining. During this procedure, your doctor may take soft tissue biopsy samples to determine if the polyps are cancerous or not.
Treating Gastric Polyps:
Treatment for gastric polyps will depend heavily on the size, number, and type of polyps your doctor finds. Small, non-cancerous polyps may not require treatment and can be monitored periodically. Larger polyps or those causing symptoms may need to be removed surgically or through endoscopic procedures. If your doctor finds that one or more of your polyps are cancerous, further surgical procedures, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be necessary. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with gastric polyps, it’s important to continue following up with a healthcare provider for monitoring and to ensure appropriate management of these pesky growths.