Clinical Manifestations
As might be expected from lesions that vary so widely in size, shape, number, and location, the associated clinical manifestations are diverse. In fact most polyps cause no symptoms and are found incidentally at autopsy or on radiographic or colonoscopic studies done for other purposes. The most frequent abnormalities are those of bleeding (hematochezia, anemia) or more rarely abdominal pain, if the polyp is large enough to obstruct the bowel partially. With large polyps paÂtients may note a change in bowel habits with diarrhea or constipation. Very rarely large villous adenomas may produce watery diarrhea containÂing enough potassium to produce significant hyÂpokalemia.