Are Duodenal Polyps Common?

Duodenal polyps are a rare finding in patients presenting for gastroscopy, being found in 0.3–4.6% of cases. The majority of patients are asymptomatic.

Are duodenal polyps usually benign?

Duodenal polyps are found in 0.3 – 4.6% of patients who have an endoscopy (a camera test) to look into the stomach and duodenum. Most polyps cause no symptoms and are benign but can have malignant potential and so are best treated once identified.

Are duodenal polyps serious?

All duodenal polyps should be sampled or removed, if feasible. Even small polyps can be adenomas or carcinoids and may present a risk for cancer development. The risk of cancer increases with polyp size; however, most polyps, even those larger than 2 cm, are benign and should be removed endoscopically, if feasible.