# Digestive tract polyp (benign) - Category: chronic - Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page) - Sources: Colorectal Polyps and Polyposis Syndromes - StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf NBK430761) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430761/ · ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class DD29 - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care - Verified date: 2026-08 ## Verified against - No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care - Digestive tract polyp (benign) - disease-level clinical article (digestive-tract-polyp-clinical.txt) ## Treatment metadata - No drug therapy in primary care (Referral & Advice) ## Complete treatment card ```text DIGESTIVE TRACT POLYP (BENIGN) Sources: Colorectal Polyps and Polyposis Syndromes - StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf NBK430761) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430761/ · ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class DD29 - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care Review status: REVIEWED against No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care, Digestive tract polyp (benign) - disease-level clinical article (digestive-tract-polyp-clinical.txt) (2026-08) IS IT THIS? - reference only, to read alongside your own examination SYMPTOMS - what the patient reports (7) - Most gastric polyps cause no symptoms and turn up incidentally at endoscopy [polyp] - A subset present with GI bleeding, anemia, abdominal pain, or occasionally obstruction [abdominal pain · anaemia · bleeding] - Reported complaints include acid reflux, dyspepsia, chest pain, early fullness, and fatigue [chest pain · fatigue · heartburn · indigestion] - Neuroendocrine polyps can cause nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and diarrhea [diarrhoea · nausea · polyp · vomiting · weight loss] - Long-term proton pump inhibitor use in someone's history suggests fundic gland polyps [polyp] - Hyperplastic polyps may also cause reflux and, rarely, gastric outlet obstruction or chest pain [chest pain · heartburn · polyp] - Juvenile polyposis can present with abdominal pain, obstruction, GI bleeding, and diarrhea [abdominal pain · bleeding · diarrhoea] SIGNS - what you find (2) - Lip hyperpigmentation is a feature of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome [pigmentation change] - Facial trichilemmomas and acral keratoses point to Cowden syndrome TESTS (8) - Image-enhanced endoscopy with biopsies of atrophic or metaplastic areas is advised in those at higher gastric-cancer risk - The Sydney System biopsy protocol standardizes sampling from the antrum, incisura, and both curvatures in high-risk patients - Roughly 89% of non-cardia stomach cancers worldwide involve H pylori, and clearing the infection lowers that cancer risk by about 32% - Biopsy of the polyp and background tissue is needed since endoscopic appearance alone cannot reliably diagnose it - Subepithelial polyps require endoscopic ultrasound with biopsy - Colonoscopy is advised to check for FAP when dysplasia, malignancy, or multiple polyps are found - Larger gastric polyps can sometimes be seen on CT or MRI - A GIST may show on CT imaging obtained to check for metastases and local invasion IF NOT THIS - what else fits (12) - Hyperplastic polyp is on the differential - Fundic gland polyp is on the differential - Adenoma is on the differential - Familial adenomatous polyposis is on the differential - Carcinoid is on the differential - Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are on the differential - Leiomyoma is on the differential - Peutz-Jegher syndrome is on the differential - Cowden syndrome is on the differential - Juvenile polyposis syndrome is on the differential - Gastric adenocarcinoma is on the differential - Lymphoma is on the differential Source StatPearls "Gastric Polyp" - disease-level clinical article Status traced to the source above 1. NO DRUG THERAPY IN PRIMARY CARE (REFERRAL & ADVICE) [1st line] Adult Colonic, gastric, or duodenal polyps found incidentally or during workup for bleeding/anaemia need referral for endoscopic removal and histology; the GP's role is referral plus treating any resulting iron-deficiency anaemia. - Refer, with advice Peds Children follow the same pathway: recognise and refer. No primary-care medicine is implied. Source No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care Why Colonic, gastric, or duodenal polyps found incidentally or during workup for bleeding/anaemia need referral for endoscopic removal and histology; the GP's role is referral plus treating any resulting iron-deficiency anaemia. Caution No medicine is prescribed for this in primary care - this entry is for recognition and referral. Anything given is decided by the service it is referred to. RED FLAG - Gastric polyps can cause gastric outlet obstruction, intussusception, and perforation. RED FLAG - Rectal bleeding, iron-deficiency anaemia, a family history of colorectal cancer or a polyposis syndrome, a polyp larger than 1 cm, or rapid growth: refer for colonoscopy and specialist assessment. Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy. ``` --- Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement. [Privacy policy](/privacy)