结肠息肉（Colon polyps）

The colon, the lower part of the digestive system, processes waste products and prepares feces (stool) for elimination (a bowel movement). The inner surface of the colon can have abnormal growths, both benign and malignant (cancer). Benign growths are called polyps or adenomas. Polyps, if left undetected, can become cancerous, although not all polyps will.

结肠是消化道的最后一部分，处理废物、形成并排出粪便。结肠的里面可能出现不正常的生长，或为良性，或为恶性（癌）。良性的生长叫做息肉或者腺瘤。息肉如果不及时发现，大多会进展为癌。

Colon polyps usually do not cause symptoms, so persons with polyps do not know they have them until found during a colonoscopy (see below) or other testing. If precancerous polyps are detected and removed, many cancers can be prevented. Doctors who specialize in treatment of digestive diseases, including colon polyps and colon cancer, are called gastroenterologists. Because colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in developed nations, it is important to screen as many individuals as possible for the presence of colon polyps and colon cancer.

结肠息肉通常不会引起症状，所以有息肉的人毫无知觉，直到结肠镜检查或其他检查的时候发现。如果息肉还没发展到癌就给予切除，很多肠癌可以得到预防。治疗消化系统疾病（包括肠息肉和肠癌）的专业医生叫做胃肠科医生。因为肠癌是发达国家排名第二的致死肿瘤，所以对人群进行筛查，早期发现肠息肉或肠癌非常重要。

RISK FACTORS
危险因素

• Family history of colon polyps or colon cancer
  肠息肉或肠癌的家族史

• Inactivity and high-fat diets have been linked to higher risks of having colon cancer.
  少动、高脂饮食与肠癌发病风险增高有关

• Inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease)
  炎症性肠病（溃疡性结肠炎、克罗恩病）

• Ashkenazi Jewish persons (of Eastern European origin) have a higher incidence of colon cancer than other ethnic groups.
  德系犹太人（东欧裔）比其他民族患肠癌风险高
  

TREATMENT
治疗
Polyps can be removed during colonoscopy—an outpatient procedure where a lighted tube is passed through the anus, into the rectum (lowest part of the colon), and into the colon, allowing the doctor to examine the inner surface of the colon for irregularities, polyps, or cancerous lesions. The removed polyps are sent to a pathologist who looks for the presence of cancer within the polyp. If cancer is present, your doctors will recommend a treatment plan based on the extent of the colon cancer and whether it has spread. Removal of the polyp during colonoscopy may be sufficient. Otherwise, treatment for colon cancer usually involves surgery, possibly followed by chemotherapy.

肠镜检查时就可以切除息肉（是一项门诊检查，采用带光源的软管经肛门插入直肠，进入结肠，医生可以充分观察结肠内面，检查有无异常、息肉、或肿瘤病变）。切下来的息肉送去做病理检查，看看息肉里面有没有癌细胞。如果发现癌细胞，医生会根据肠癌的范围、是否扩散制定治疗计划。肠镜切除息肉可能就足够了。否则，肠癌的治疗常常需要手术。术后可能需要化疗。

PREVENTION
预防
Colonoscopy, beginning at age 50 (or earlier if risk factors exist), is the only way to detect most colon polyps. Sigmoidoscopy examines only the lowest portion of the left side of the colon and is not a complete test for either polyps or colon cancer. Fecal occult blood testing can detect cancer only if it has bled.
从50岁起（如有危险因素可更早）开始做结肠镜，是唯一可以发现大多数息肉的方法。乙状结肠镜只检查左半结肠的最后一段，不是检查息肉或肠癌的完整检查。息肉只有在引起出血的时候才可以通过粪便潜血检查发现。

• Eat a low-fat, healthful diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables.
  摄入低脂、富含纤维素、水果、蔬菜的饮食

• Exercise regularly.
  规律锻炼

• Do not smoke.
  不要抽烟

• Maintain a healthy weight.
  

  保持健康的体重
  

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