Colon Adenoma: Potential For Cancer

Adenomas in the colon are non-cancerous polyps, which have the potential of becoming cancerous over a period of time. Colon adenoma is often called as an Adenomatous polyp. It is a form of colon polyp that affects at least 30 percent of adults over the age of fifty years.

Even though some of the adenomas stay harmless, yet others may turn into a cancerous form. A larger adenoma is more likely to become a cancer cell than a medium sized adenoma which takes about five years to develop. The cancer takes almost ten years to develop. This means it gives the victim plenty of time to get tested.

Colon adenomas of any size can bleed. They can cause tarry black stools or even red blood stools. Adenomas in the colon may even lead to anemia in the patient. They usually dont show any symptoms until later stages. So often, people over the age of fifty years should be encouraged to have their stool tested for blood, not less than once a year.

However, note that a negative blood test does not eliminate the chances of a presence of the adenoma. Still, it is advisable for people over the age of fifty to go for a colonoscopy every three to five years.

A colonoscopy lets the healthcare specialist look inside the colon to check for the presence of adenomas, polyps or any other changes that have taken place in the colon since the last screening.

Since Adenomas are accountable for 75 percent of all colon polyps, lets understand its composition. They are composed of dyplastic epithelium. The nucleus of these polyps is cigar shaped and enlarged. There are various subtypes of adenoma which differ basically in the way the polyp cells are assembled while being inspected under a microscope. They can be tubular, tubulovillous or villous.

Adenomas which are tubulous have more than 75 percent of their epithelium placed in a tubular fashion. When this adenoma is cut across, it looks like rows of gun-barrels which have been transected. The tubular adenomas are the least likely to develop into a cancer.

The polyps which are tubulovillous have about 50 to 75 percent of tubular component, the rest is villous. The adenomas which are villous have about 50 percent of the dyplastic epithelium which is arranged in a villous projection which is tall finger-like almost similar to the villi that is seen in a normal mucosa of the small intestine. The villous adenomas are apparently more likely to become a form of cancer.

A colon adenoma is actually a local proliferation of the dyplastic epithelium. This is flat initially, but with an increase in the growth, projects from the polyps which are formed by mucosa. With regular check ups, this condition may be detected and treated so dont miss your check ups!