Malignant potential of gastric polyps
Gastric polyps are often found incidentally during endoscopy and are histologically classified as hyperplastic, fundic gland, or adenomatous polyps.
- Hyperplastic polyps are the most commonly encountered type of gastric polyp (70% to 90%) and may have malignant potential. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated dysplasia in up to 19% of hyperplastic polyps and there have been several reports of focal cancer.
- Fundic gland polyps have not been associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer but may develop in association with long-term use of proton pump inhibitors or may occur in association with familial adenomatous colorectal polyps.
- Gastric adenomatous polyps are rare but do have malignant potential, which correlates with the size of the polyp and the age of the patient.
