gastric polyp

Last reviewed 01/2018

Gastric polyps are small adenomas of the gastric mucosa. There is an association between the occurrence of adenomatous polyps and pernicious anaemia.

Gastric polyps may be single or multiple, and pedunculated or sessile in form. It is rare for a gastric polyp to grow to more that a few centimetres in diameter. Generally, they are asymptomatic but can produce haemorrhage, abdominal pain or obstruction of the pyloric canal. Usually a gastric polyp is an incidental findings on radiological or endoscopic investigation.

Histological examination reveals that up to 20% have features of dysplasia (1). They probably account for a very small proportion of gastric carcinomas but should nevertheless receive regular endoscopic follow-up.

Treatment is via endoscopic excision biopsy. Submucosal polyps, although not necessarily malignant, cannot be resected endoscopically. However, endoscopic ultrasound may be a means of surveillance of these lesions.

Reference:

• Tio, T. et al. (1990). Endoscopic ultrasonography for the evaluation of smooth muscle tumors in the upper gastrointestinal tract: an experience with 42 cases. Gastrointest. Endosc. 36:,342-350.