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Pólipos colorrectales - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Pólipos intestinales; Pólipos del colon y el recto; Pólipos adenomatosos; Pólipos hiperplásicos; Adenomas vellosos

Definición:

Es una masa que sobresale del revestimiento del colon o del recto.

Causas:

Los pólipos colorrectales generalmente son benignos, lo cual significa que no son cáncer ni se diseminan. Puede haber uno o múltiples pólipos y se vuelven más comunes a medida que la gente envejece.

Con el tiempo, ciertos tipos de pólipos, llamados pólipos adenomatosos, se pueden convertir en cáncer de colon. Otro tipo común de pólipo que se encuentra en el colon se denomina pólipo hiperplásico, que generalmente no se transforma en cáncer de colon.

Los pólipos mayores a 1 centímetro tienen un mayor riesgo de cáncer que los de menor tamaño. Entre los factores de riesgo están:

  • Edad.
  • Antecedentes familiares de pólipos y cáncer de colon.
  • Un tipo de pólipo llamado adenoma velloso.

Los pólipos también pueden estar asociados con algunos trastornos hereditarios, como:

  • Reviewed last on: 11/8/2010
  • George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Lieberman DA. Clinical practice: screening for colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2009;361(12):1179-1187.

Burt RW, Barthel JS, Dunn KB, et al. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Colorectal cancer screening. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2010;8:8-61.

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