Why is polyp removal (polypectomy) performed if found during the colonoscopy?
One of the most common uses of colonoscopy is for screening and prevention of colon cancer. Finding a potentially precancerous polyp is important as most cancers can be prevented by removing the polyp before it has a chance to become cancerous. Polyps vary in size from about the size of a pea to several inches and are usually harmless. However, some polyps can become cancerous and for this reason, they are usually removed during the colonoscopy. This procedure is called a “polypectomy.” In most cases, your doctor cannot tell which polyps may eventually become cancerous, so the whole polyp, or at least a sample of it, needs to be examined under a microscope. The ability to safely and painlessly remove such growths before they become cancerous has made colon cancer one of the most preventable cancers in the world. What happens after a colonoscopy? Your physician will explain the results of the examination, but you will probably have to wait for the results of any biopsies. If you receive
