Stomach Polyps – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

The stomach works as a muscular pouch that expands when you eat or drink. It can hold nearly one gallon of food and liquid when full. After your meal enters the stomach, the digestive process begins.

The stomach walls contain strong muscles that create wave-like contractions called peristaltic waves. These contractions push the broken-down food toward the pyloric valve, which serves as the exit door from your stomach.

This valve connects to the duodenum, which is the first part of your small intestine where further digestion occurs. Stomach polyps are unusual growths that form on the stomach’s inner lining. Most people with these polyps don’t notice any symptoms.

Doctors typically find these growths by chance during tests or procedures done for other health reasons.

Most stomach polyps are harmless and don’t become cancerous. However, certain types may increase your risk of stomach cancer. Your doctor might recommend:

• Removal of the polyp through an endoscopic procedure
• Regular monitoring with follow-up endoscopies to check for changes
• Biopsy testing to determine the polyp type

The treatment plan depends on the size, type, and location of your polyps, as well as your overall health status.

Symptoms

Stomach polyps typically don’t produce any noticeable symptoms. However, larger polyps may develop ulcers on their surface. In rare cases, a polyp might block the passage between the stomach and small intestine.

Common symptoms that might appear include:

• Stomach pain or tenderness when pressed
• Feeling nauseous
• Blood appearing in stool
• Anemia (low red blood cell count)

When to see a doctor

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you notice blood in your stool that continues over time. This symptom, along with other signs of stomach polyps, requires medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Causes

Stomach polyps develop when the stomach lining gets damaged. Several factors can lead to these growths.

Long-term stomach inflammation, or gastritis, is a common cause. This ongoing irritation can produce hyperplastic polyps, which rarely become cancerous. However, if these polyps grow larger than 1 centimeter (about 2/5 inch), the cancer risk increases slightly.

Inflammation may also cause adenomas. Though less common than other stomach polyps, adenomas have a higher risk of becoming cancerous. Doctors typically remove these polyps as a precaution.

A genetic condition called familial adenomatous polyposis causes fundic gland polyps. When linked to this inherited syndrome, these polyps might become cancerous and require removal. This condition can also lead to adenomas.

Regular use of certain stomach acid medications, particularly proton pump inhibitors, often results in fundic gland polyps. These medication-related polyps are usually:

• Small in size
• Generally harmless
• Not a reason for concern

However, if a fundic gland polyp grows larger than 1 centimeter, it carries a small cancer risk. Healthcare providers might suggest:

1. Stopping the medication
2. Removing the polyp
3. Both options together

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase your chances of getting stomach polyps:

• Age: People in middle to late adulthood face a higher risk.
• H. pylori Infection: This bacterial infection in the stomach can cause inflammation leading to hyperplastic polyps and adenomas.
• Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: A rare inherited condition that raises risk for stomach polyps and colon cancer.
• Medication Use: Taking proton pump inhibitors (medicines for acid reflux) for a long time may contribute to fundic gland polyps.