How do anal polyps form?

Anal polyps are lumps that grow on the anal canal or rectal mucosa. Most anal polyps look like pedunculated, round or oval tumors. Generally speaking, anal polyps can protrude into the intestinal cavity and move up and down. During defecation, the anal polyps will move with the extension of the feces and give the patient a certain pain sensation. Anal polyps are benign tumors and generally there is no need to worry too much.

Most anal polyps are single, while multiple ones are a minority. There are many factors that may cause anal polyps, such as dietary factors, inflammatory stimulation, feces, foreign body stimulation, mechanical injury, and genetic factors. Clinical manifestations: blood in the stool. Painless blood in the stool is the main clinical manifestation of anal polyps, but some patients may not have symptoms of blood in the stool. The amount of blood in the stool caused by polyps is relatively small. However, if the polyps are dislodged due to squeezing during defecation, or if the polyps are large and located low, a larger amount of bleeding may occur. The characteristic of blood in the stool is that it contains blood but does not drip. When anal polyps are large or numerous, gravity pulls on the intestinal mucosa, causing it to gradually separate from the muscle layer and prolapse downward. The traction caused by the patient's defecation movement and the stimulation of intestinal peristalsis can relax the mucosal layer around the base of the rectum, which may be complicated by rectal prolapse. When intestinal peristalsis pulls on polyps, intestinal irritation symptoms may occur, such as abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, tenesmus, etc.

If a person has anal polyps, corresponding examinations can be performed on them: the fecal occult blood test is often positive; under the microscope, the adenoma is slightly red in appearance, has a pedicle or a broad base, and is spherical or hemispherical in shape; polyp-like lesions should be removed or examined histologically under endoscopy to determine the nature and type of the lesions and whether they are cancerous.

If there is only one anal polyp, the pain is generally not very severe. Just pay attention to maintaining hygiene in daily life to prevent polyps from being stimulated by bacteria and becoming worse. If the number of anal polyps is large and the pain is severe, surgical treatment is required. Pathological analysis and diagnosis of anal polyp specimens after surgery are very important, as they determine whether the patient is likely to relapse.