Polypectomy

Removal of a polyp by surgery.

In the case of polyps in the colon, polypectomy may be done by open abdominal surgery or, more commonly today, by colonoscopy.

During colonoscopy, a small polyp may be snipped off with a biopsy forceps and larger polyps may be removed by putting a snare around the polyp base and burning through the tissue with electric cautery.

Rarely is a polyp too large to remove by colonoscopy.

The most common complications of polypectomy include bleeding and perforation (creating a hole in the colon).

From polyp + -ectomy, from the Greek ektome meaning excision.

See also: Colonoscopy.