Colorectal Polyps

Risk Factors and Causes

Colorectal polyps develop as a result of abnormal tissue growth in the lining (mucosa) of the colon or rectum. Risk factors for colorectal polyps include the following:

• Age (more common in patients over the age of 50)
• Alcohol use
• Cigarette smoking
• Diabetes
• Diet high in fat and low in fiber
• Gender (slightly more common in men)
• History of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)
• Overweight/obesity
• Personal or family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer
• Previous radiation therapy (e.g., to treat testicular cancer or prostate cancer)
• Sedentary lifestyle

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Polyposis syndromes are rare genetic (inherited) disorders that cause colorectal polyps and increase the risk for colorectal cancer. Types of polyposis syndromes include the following:

• Cowden disease (causes multiple slow-growing polyps)
• Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP; characterized by the formation of hundreds to thousands of colorectal polyps)
• Gardner's syndrome (also can cause bone and soft tissue tumors)
• Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome (also called Lynch syndrome; increases the risk for several types of cancer)
• Juvenile polyposis (occurs in infants; can cause rectal bleeding)
• Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (also causes polyps in the small intestine and increased pigmentation of the skin of the lips, fingers, and toes)
• Turcot syndrome (also causes malignant brain tumors)

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