A sigmoid polyp is an abnormal collection of cells that grows in the sigmoid portion of the colon. This is the area of the colon that is closest to the rectum. In most cases, a sigmoid polyp is found to be noncancerous, although the risk of cancer increases as the polyp grows. There are several different types of polyps that can be found in this area of the colon, including adenomatous polyps, hyperplastic polyps, and benign colon polyps. Surgical removal is the most common treatment method for a sigmoid polyp, especially if it causes symptoms such as bleeding or pain.
The most common type of sigmoid polyp is known as an adenomatous polyp. This type of polyp is usually not cancerous, although most colon polyps that are cancerous are of this type. An adenomatous polyp can develop as a normal part of aging or due to dietary habits or genetics. Because this type of growth has a relatively significant chance of becoming cancerous over time, most doctors will schedule surgery to remove it. If an adenomatous polyp is diagnosed and removed while it is still small, the risk of it becoming malignant or cancerous is much lower than if it has grown into a large growth.
Another possible type of sigmoid polyp is known as a hyperplastic polyp. This type of growth is usually quite small and has virtually no chance of becoming cancerous. At the same time, it is sometimes difficult for a doctor to distinguish between a hyperplastic and an adenomatous polyp without performing a biopsy. For this reason, surgery is usually done to remove the polyp itself, or a small portion of the polyp may be removed for further testing. Many doctors prefer to remove the entire polyp rather than risk the patient later requiring an additional surgical procedure to remove the polyp, depending on the results of the biopsy.
A benign colon polyp is another potential type of sigmoid polyp. This type of noncancerous growth can be caused by inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Fortunately, this type of sigmoid polyp does not tend to cause additional health problems. If the growth is found to be cancerous, which is relatively uncommon, the medical staff will advise the patient on the best treatment for the individual situation. Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation treatments.