Can a doctor tell if polyp is cancerous during colonoscopy?

Most polyps are benign (not cancerous). Your doctor can tell if a colon polyp is cancerous during a colonoscopy by collecting tissue to biopsy. The results of the biopsy are typically sent to your doctor within a week. Only 5% to 10% of all polyps become cancerous.

my.clevelandclinic.org - Cancerous Polyps: Overview, Definition & Treatment

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Overview

What are polyps?

A polyp is a growth inside of your body that contains malignant (cancerous) or cells that may become malignant. It’s a clump of cells that are growing abnormally. A polyp is usually shaped one of two ways. It can be a flat bump (sessile). Or it can be shaped like a mushroom, with a bulbous head projecting from a stalk (pedunculated). Polyps range in size, from about 5 millimeters (the size of a match head) to 3 centimeters (similar to the top of your thumb) or larger. A growth may be a precancerous polyp (the cells are starting to change but have not yet become cancerous). Or the cells may be cancerous. Polyps sometimes develop in other places. Although they may grow and cause symptoms, they don’t become cancerous:

Bladder.

Ear (aural polyps).

Gallbladder.

Nose (nasal polyps).

Vocal cords.

Cancerous polyps

Cancerous polyps may develop on several different surfaces inside of your body:

Colon or rectum (parts of your large intestine), referred to as colorectal polyps.

Stomach.

Uterus.

Is a polyp a tumor?

If you have a polyp, your healthcare provider can determine whether it’s a cancerous tumor. This usually involves a biopsy. During a biopsy, your healthcare provider takes a small sample of tissue or removes the entire polyp. Then, an expert looks at the polyp’s cells under a microscope.

Does a cancerous polyp mean colon cancer?

Polyps are common, but cancerous polyps aren’t. Most polyps are benign (not cancerous). Your doctor can tell if a colon polyp is cancerous during a colonoscopy by collecting tissue to biopsy. The results of the biopsy are typically sent to your doctor within a week.

Only 5% to 10% of all polyps become cancerous.

How long does it take for a polyp to turn into cancer?

If a polyp becomes malignant (cancerous), it usually happens over the course of several years.

What are the symptoms of a cancerous polyp?

Cancerous polyps may cause no symptoms at all. But if you do have symptoms, they depend on where the polyp is located:

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