How Often Should Polyps Be Monitored?

Dear Ask The Doctor: How likely are polyps to return after removal during a colonoscopy? And how often should you have a repeat test? Are there different kinds or forms of polyps and should one really be worried?

Dear Lisa: A polyp is a slow-growing overgrowth on the surface of the colon. Most polyps are benign (non-cancerous), however some have a small risk of becoming malignant (cancerous). Colon polyps can be raised or flat. Once a polyp is removed at colonoscopy, it must be sent to the pathology laboratory to identify the cell type present in the polyp. Follow-up depends on the cell type present and the individual risk of each patient. Patients can be at high-risk of developing polyps, if they have a family history of colonic polyps and this group requires frequent follow-up with a gastroenterologist. Repeat colonoscopy should be performed 5 years following complete removal of a low-risk polyp, defined by the laboratory. Colonoscopy is repeated in 3 years if the polyp has higher-risk features. Repeat colonoscopy may be advised in 3-12 months if complete polyp removal was uncertain.