Colorectal Polyps Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Colorectal Polyp: A small clump of epithelial cells forming a bump or overgrowth along the lining of the colon or rectum.
• Division of Cells: Cells lining the colon and rectum are constantly dividing.
• Benign vs. Malignant: Typically benign, but some can become malignant over time, invading nearby tissues.

Types of Colorectal Polyps

• Adenomatous Polyps (Colonic Adenomas): Most common type.
  • APC Gene: Mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene, a tumor suppressor gene regulating cell growth.
  • Consequence of Mutation: Mutated APC gene leads to rapid division of epithelial cells, forming polyps.