Polyps of the colon and rectum
Summary
The colon is the last part of the intestinal tract, and functions primarily to extract water and solutes from stool. This chapter offers diverse images that provide an overview of polyps of the colon and rectum and aims to provide a synopsis through pictures and illustrations rather than through text. The detection and treatment of adenomatous polyps through routine screening and early detection are associated with reduced rates of colorectal cancer and mortality. The chapter includes typical examples of several commonly encountered nonadenomatous polyps, including inflammatory fibroid polyps, pseudopolyps, which are most often encountered in the setting of chronic inflammation, and hamartomatous polyps, which are disorganized tissue growths composed of normal tissue elements. It also includes examples of how artificial intelligence and machine learning are being incorporated into colonoscopy to aid with polyp detection .