Surgery is performed to remove an adenoma.
Adenomas, or polyps, are a fairly common occurrence in older adults. A tubular adenoma rarely turns cancerous; however, as almost all colon cancers begin with polyps, they must never be ignored.
Identification
According to the Medicine Net website, a tubular adenoma is a type of polyp found in the colon that has the potential to become cancerous. There are several types of adenomas, and some are more likely than others to become cancerous. Tubular adenomas are the least likely to turn cancerous.
Features
The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library website states that polyp removal is completed through the use of electrosurgical biopsy forceps during a standard colonoscopy -- a procedure used to discover if colon abnormalities exist. Alternatively, they can be snared by a wire loop, also completed during a colonoscopy. Care must be taken to achieve complete removal, and if the surgery proves unsuccessful, the surgeon will perform a laparotomy -- a more invasive procedure in which colon access is obtained through an abdominal incision.
Follow-up Care
According to the Mayo Clinic, after its removal, the adenoma is analyzed in a laboratory to discover if it is benign or cancerous. Once this is determined, the doctor will create an appropriate treatment plan.
Tags: become cancerous, tubular adenoma
