It took two weeks for my colorectal surgeon to get back to me regarding the results of the biopsy he took during my annual exam. I saw it clearly (on the screen as he probed with the scope).....a textbook-perfect polyp "hanging" there in the remaining mucosa of my anus/rectum....whatever it is! It looked huge! My surgeon said it was the size of a pea. Whew (I guess)! So...he took a biopsy and today (two weeks later) I learned it was of the inflamatory variety. My surgeon said, "See you in a year." The polyp is still there! My question: Is this typical? Just leave it there? Don't remove it? Why or why not take it out??????

I think an inflammatory polyp is harmless and doesn't contain dysplasia - just inflammation.

The "bad" polyps are the one us FAP'ers get - called adenoma, which do contain dysplasia.

I would think an inflammatory polyp can stay and doesn't need to be removed.

Right. Does not need to be removed unless it is bleeding or otherwise causing you problems.

My GI has me coming back in 18 months. As long as there was no dysplasia, you can relax.

Jan

Thanks so so much for your responses. I am such a worry wart! When I saw that polyp on the screen, all I could think of was "Take it out!" I thought "they" just recommended removal of any kind of polyp. Mine is causing no problem since I didn't even know it existed until I saw it. Now, I'm still a bit crazed knowing it's there!.......as though the rest of me is perfect....NOT!