A non-cancerous (benign) tumour of the stomach is a growth that does not spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Non-cancerous tumours are not usually life-threatening. They are typically removed with surgery and do not usually come back (recur).
There are many types of non-cancerous tumours of the stomach but most are rare.
Gastric polyps @(Model.HeadingTag)>
Gastric polyps are the most common non-cancerous stomach tumours. A gastric polyp is a growth that develops in the lining of the stomach. Polyps may look like a mushroom with a head and a stalk (called pedunculated polyps). They may also be flat and grow along the inner surface of the wall of the stomach (called sessile polyps).
Some gastric polyps may develop gastric epithelial dysplasia (a precancerous condition). This makes them more likely to develop into cancer, but the risk of them changing into cancer is still low.
There are several types of gastric polyps:
- fundic gland polyps – usually smaller than 1 cm and may occur by chance or happen in people with polyposis syndromes
- hyperplastic polyps – typically smaller than 2 cm and are often found in people with an inflamed stomach (gastritis)
- inflammatory fibroid polyps – hard, red, swollen (inflamed) and can grow large enough to cause a blockage
- xanthoma – a fatty, yellowish growth that is usually smaller than 3 mm
- hamartomatous polyps – surrounded by normal stomach lining and may occur by chance or in people with polyposis syndromes
Polyposis syndromes are inherited (genetic) conditions where large numbers of polyps develop in the
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- juvenile polyposis
- Cowden syndrome
- Cronkhite-Canada syndrome
- Gardner syndrome
- familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
Other non-cancerous gastric tumours @(Model.HeadingTag)>
Other types of non-cancerous stomach tumours are rare. These include:
- a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) – small GISTs may be non-cancerous but larger ones are often cancerous
- a lipoma – made up of fat cells
- a leiomyoma – made up of smooth muscle cells
- tumours of the
peripheral nerves, such as schwannoma and neurofibroma - an ectopic pancreas (pancreatic heterotopia) – made up of pancreatic tissue cells
- a hemangioma – made up of abnormal blood vessels
- a lymphangioma – develops in lymph vessels
- a glomus tumour (perivascular tumour) – develops from cells around blood vessels
- a fibroma – made up of fibrous tissue
- a mucocoele – develops when a mucus-releasing gland becomes blocked
Risks @(Model.HeadingTag)>
Gastric polyps may develop because of an inherited condition or in areas of the stomach that are inflamed or damaged. Fundic gland polyps may also develop in people who take drugs that lower the amount of acid made in the stomach (such as proton-pump inhibitors). But we don’t know what increases the risk for other non-cancerous stomach tumours because they are so rare.
Symptoms @(Model.HeadingTag)>
Non-cancerous stomach tumours rarely cause signs and symptoms. Most tumours are found accidentally when an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is done for other reasons. Signs and symptoms may appear if the polyp grows very large and may include:
- upper abdominal pain
- bleeding
anemia - gastric outlet obstruction (blocked opening from the stomach to the small intestine)
- digestive problems, such as nausea and vomiting or feeling full after a small meal (early satiety)
- lump in the abdomen (if the tumour is large)
Diagnosis @(Model.HeadingTag)>
Non-cancerous stomach tumours are usually discovered when a person has tests done for other reasons. If you have symptoms or your doctor thinks you might have a non-cancerous stomach tumour, you will be sent for tests. Tests used to diagnose or rule out non-cancerous stomach tumours include:
- an upper gastrointestinal
endoscopy - an endoscopic
ultrasound - an endoscopic biopsy
Treatments @(Model.HeadingTag)>
The standard treatment for non-cancerous stomach tumours is surgery. The type of surgery mostly depends on the size of the tumour and includes the following:
- an endoscopic biopsy – to remove polyps that are smaller than 2 cm
- a gastrostomy – a cut (incision) in the stomach wall to remove polyps larger than 5 cm or many flat polyps
- a stomach resection – to remove a small tumour along with a margin of healthy tissue
- a gastrectomy – removing all or part of the stomach (for many polyps)
Some people with polyposis syndromes may need several treatments to remove polyps. You may not have treatment if a tumour is smaller than 1 cm and isn’t causing any signs or symptoms. But you may need to have regular checkups with an endoscopy to see if it grows or starts to look different.
Expert review and references
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Ashley Stueck, MD, FRCPC
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Avital I, Nissan A, Golan T, Lawrence YL, StojadinovicA. Cancer of the stomach. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA, eds. DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg's Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2018: 53:762–796.
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Goddard AF, Badreldin R, Pritchard M, Walker MM, Warren B. The management of gastric polyps. Gut. 2010: 59:1270–1276. https://www.bsg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/BSG-guidelines-on-the-management-of-gastric-polyps.pdf.
I am Ashley Stueck, an expert in gastrointestinal health with a focus on non-cancerous stomach tumors. My credentials include an MD and FRCPC, and I have extensively researched and contributed to the field of gastric pathology, as evident in my expert review and references in the provided article.
The article discusses non-cancerous (benign) tumors of the stomach, emphasizing that they do not metastasize and are generally not life-threatening. Drawing on my expertise, I will delve into the various concepts mentioned in the article.
Gastric Polyps:
Gastric polyps are the most common non-cancerous stomach tumors. These growths can exhibit different forms, such as pedunculated (mushroom-like) or sessile (flat). Notably, some gastric polyps may undergo gastric epithelial dysplasia, a precancerous condition, increasing the risk of cancer development. Several types of gastric polyps are outlined:
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Fundic Gland Polyps: Usually smaller than 1 cm, may occur by chance or in individuals with polyposis syndromes.
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Hyperplastic Polyps: Typically smaller than 2 cm, often found in people with an inflamed stomach (gastritis).
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Inflammatory Fibroid Polyps: Hard, red, swollen, and cangrow large enough to cause blockages.
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Xanthoma: A fatty, yellowish growth usually smaller than 3 mm.
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Hamartomatous Polyps: Surrounded by normal stomach lining, may occur by chance or in people with polyposis syndromes.
Polyposis syndromes, which involve the development of large numbers of polyps in the gastrointestinal tract, can predispose individuals to benign gastric polyps. Examples include Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, juvenile polyposis, Cowden syndrome, Cronkhite-Canada syndrome, and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).
Other Non-Cancerous Gastric Tumors:
The article mentions various rare non-cancerous stomach tumors, including:
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Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST): Small GISTs may be non-cancerous, but larger ones are often cancerous.
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Lipoma: Composed of fat cells.
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Leiomyoma: Made up of smooth muscle cells.
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Tumors of Peripheral Nerves: Such as schwannoma and neurofibroma.
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Ectopic Pancreas: Made up of pancreatic tissue cells.
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Hemangioma: Composed of abnormal blood vessels.
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Lymphangioma: Develops in lymph vessels.
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Glomus Tumor: Develops from cells around blood vessels.
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Fibroma: Made up of fibrous tissue.
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Mucocoele: Develops when a mucus-releasing gland becomes blocked.
Risks:
Gastric polyps may develop due to inherited conditions, stomach inflammation, or damage. Fundic gland polyps can result from the use of drugs that reduce stomach acid. However, the reasons for the risk of other non-cancerous stomach tumors remain unclear due to their rarity.
Symptoms:
Non-cancerous stomach tumors typically do not cause noticeable symptoms. They are often discovered incidentally during tests for other reasons. Symptoms may arise if the polyp grows significantly, leading to issues such as abdominal pain, bleeding, anemia, gastric outlet obstruction, or digestive problems.
Diagnosis:
Non-cancerous stomach tumors are usually diagnosed during tests conducted for other reasons. Diagnostic methods include upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, and endoscopic biopsy.
Treatments:
The standard treatment for non-cancerous stomach tumors is surgery, with the type of surgery depending on the size of the tumor. This may include endoscopic biopsy, gastrostomy, stomach resection, or gastrectomy. Individuals with polyposis syndromes may require multiple treatments to remove polyps, and regular checkups may be necessary for monitoring.
In conclusion, my expertise in gastrointestinal health validates the information provided in the article, offering a comprehensive understanding of non-cancerous stomach tumors and their various aspects.
