Flat colorectal polyps deemed more dangerous.Flat colorectal polyps PolypsA tumor with a small flap that attaches itself to the wall of various vascular organs such as the nose, uterus and rectum. Polyps bleed easily, and if they are suspected to be cancerous they should be surgically removed. are more likely to be cancerous than the more routinely diagnosed type of polyps, according to a recent study. Colorectal cancer colorectal cancer Malignant tumour of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Risk factors include age (after age 50), family history of colorectal cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, benign polyps, physical inactivity, and a diet high in fat. is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. While prevention has focused on the detection and removal of polyps, recent studies have demonstrated that colorectal cancer also can arise from flat, nonpolypoid colorectal neoplasms, or NP-CRNs. NP-CRNs are more difficult to detect by colonoscopy or computed tomography Computed tomography (CT scan) X rays are aimed at slices of the body (by rotating equipment) and results are assembled with a computer to give a three-dimensional picture of a structure. colonography because they can appear indistinguishable from the normal mucous membrane lining the colon. Compared with the surrounding mucous membrane, NPCRNs appear to be elevated slightly, completely flat or slightly depressed. In the study, NP-CRNs were almost 10 times more likely to contain cancerous tissue than polypoid polypoid /pol·yp·oid/ (pol´i-poid) resembling a polyp. pol·yp·oid adj. Resembling a polyp. polypoid resembling a polyp. lesions, regardless of the size. The depressed type of NP-CRNs had the highest risk of being cancerous. The study appeared in the March 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal, published 48 times per year by the American Medical Association. JAMA is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world. . |
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