Do stomach polyps need treatment?

Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 22, 2024
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The treatment of gastric polyps generally depends on the size and number of the polyps. If the gastric polyp is relatively small, conservative treatment and regular follow-up are usually sufficient. If there is no change in the polyp during regular gastroscopy follow-ups, we generally do not need to intervene. However, if the polyps increase in number or size, especially if they are larger than 1 centimeter, we recommend that patients undergo timely endoscopic treatment. Typically, endoscopic removal is sufficient. In fact, gastric polyps are relatively common in clinical practice, and most gastric polyps are benign lesions. Prompt endoscopic removal is usually sufficient. Most patients may not have specific discomforts, such as abdominal pain, etc. Gastric polyps are often found incidentally during gastroscopy or physical examinations. Therefore, for the diagnosis of gastric polyps, we mainly rely on gastroscopy.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Do inflammatory gastric polyps need to be removed?

Gastric polyps are relatively common in clinical practice, and generally, patients do not exhibit specific symptoms. They are often discovered during physical examinations or incidental gastroscopic exams. When numerous or particularly large gastric polyps are present, a gastroscopic biopsy is usually conducted at the same time as the gastroscopy. If the pathology biopsy indicates that the polyp is an inflammatory gastric polyp, especially if it is small, less than 1 centimeter, we recommend regular observation without actively pursuing endoscopic removal. Some patients' inflammatory polyps may regress on their own. For treatment, one can choose gastric protective medication for symptomatic observation, with a gastroscopy follow-up every six months to a year. Of course, if the polyp is considered to be inflammatory and particularly large, greater than two centimeters, we recommend removal by endoscopy as a precautionary measure, despite the fact that the risk of cancer transformation in gastric polyps is relatively small but possible.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Symptoms of gastric polyps

Gastric polyps are also relatively common in clinical practice, especially in gastroenterology outpatient clinics. Gastric polyps generally do not show symptoms, and are found in patients undergoing gastroscopic examinations or physical check-ups. Typically, gastric polyps are not large. However, a small proportion may be accompanied by abdominal discomfort, manifesting as hidden upper abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, belching, and so on. The treatment of gastric polyps can generally be divided into two types. For the first type, where the polyps are small, some less than 0.5 cm, regular observation can be adopted, with a gastroscopy performed every six months to a year. If the patient experiences abdominal discomfort, symptomatic treatment can be given, along with medications to protect the stomach and promote digestion. However, if the patient has multiple polyps, especially larger ones exceeding 1 cm, it is advisable to undergo a gastroscopic polypectomy, followed by regular follow-up visits. The results are generally good and there is no need for excessive concern.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Symptoms of gastric polyps

Gastric polyps are also relatively common in clinical practice, especially in the outpatient department of gastroenterology. The symptoms of gastric polyps can generally be divided into several types. The first type is asymptomatic; patients undergo gastroscopy due to abdominal discomfort or incidental findings, discovering gastric polyps that are generally small, usually less than 0.5 cm. From a treatment perspective, regular observation can be sufficient without intervention, and a gastroscopy recheck every six months to a year is advisable. However, a small portion of patients may experience certain symptoms such as nausea, early satiety, burping, and belching, etc. Generally, the symptoms are mild and do not affect daily life or sleep, so there is no need for undue concern. The treatment of gastric polyps generally falls into two categories; the first is regular observation, possibly because the polyps are relatively small; the second, if the polyps are larger, or if they have been found to increase in size during regular check-ups, considering removal through endoscopy might be necessary.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Do stomach polyps require surgery?

Gastric polyps are relatively common in clinical settings, particularly in gastroenterology outpatient clinics. The treatment outcomes for gastric polyps are generally good, so there is no need for excessive worry. Most gastric polyps are asymptomatic, but a small number of patients may experience abdominal discomfort, bloating, pain, nausea, and decreased appetite, with the polyps being discovered during a thorough gastroscopic examination. Treatment for gastric polyps typically falls into two categories: the first involves conservative management with close follow-up monitoring. Most gastric polyps are small, less than 1 cm, and do not present any alarming symptoms, such as anemia. It is recommended that patients undergo regular comprehensive gastroscopic examinations every six months to a year. The second type of treatment involves endoscopic intervention, especially when there are numerous polyps or if polyps increase in size during follow-up, exceeding 1 cm. In such cases, gastroscopic treatment is performed, and there is no need for open surgery, so patients should not worry excessively.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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How often should gastric polyps be rechecked?

Patients with gastric polyps are generally advised to have a gastroscope re-examination every six months to a year. If the polyp does not grow during the swelling process, and remains roughly the same, we recommend continuing with follow-up. Of course, if the polyps increase in number or size, especially if larger than one centimeter, we recommend timely endoscopic removal. Gastric polyps are actually a common condition clinically, and patients generally do not have any specific symptoms. Most patients discover the polyps incidentally during a gastroscopy. Most gastric polyps we find are benign, but a small proportion of patients may progress to cancer over time. Therefore, patients with gastric polyps do not need to be overly concerned, just undergo regular gastroscopic re-examinations, and perform gastroscopic removal when necessary. The exact cause of gastric polyp formation is not clear, and patients may undergo further tests, such as screening for Helicobacter pylori. If Helicobacter pylori infection is detected, we recommend treatment for Helicobacter pylori.