A surgical operation to remove a polyp.
Surgical removal of soft, pendulous tissues from the intestine, nasal cavity, sinuses, or vocal cords.
The removal of polyps, abnormal tissue growths that typically grow in the linings of the nose, cervix, intestine, or any other mucous membrane. Polyps protrude stalklike from the organs on which they grow. They can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Some benign polyps pose no risk. Adenomas are benign polyps that may become malignant and should be removed. Most often, they are discovered during a routine endoscopy (a procedure in which interior parts of the body are examined by using a slim, flexible, lighted tube). Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are two types of endoscopy commonly used in the detection and removal of polyps in the colon. Through a sigmoidoscope or colonoscope, it is possible to see abnormal growths and remove them by using a wire snare, ultrasound, or laser beam. After they are removed, a pathologist examines polyps under a microscope to determine whether they are cancerous or benign. If there is a malignancy, further surgery may be necessary.
The surgical removal of a polyp. In the U.S., about 1 million colonic polypectomies are performed each year.