You may already have heard about colon polyps. These abnormal cell growths are more likely to develop as we age. They occur in the colon and are removed during colonoscopies. The most common type resembles broccoli, with a stalk and a bulbous growth at the end.  

But can polyps form anywhere else? What causes them? And, are polyps cancerous?  

Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more. 

Where can polyps appear in the body?

Polyps can form in any organ that has a hollow space where they can grow. This means polyps may develop virtually anywhere along your gastrointestinal, urinary or respiratory tracts, as well as in the female reproductive organs. This includes the: 

• esophagus 
• stomach
• gallbladder 
• small intestine 
• colon 
• nasal cavity 
• trachea (windpipe) 
• vocal cords 
• lungs 
• kidneys 
• ureters 
• bladder 
• urethra 
• fallopian tubes 
• uterus 
• cervix 
• vagina 

Polyps can’t form in the liver because that organ is not hollow and its tissue is too dense. But the gallbladder has room, despite being filled with bile. 

What causes polyps?

A polyp is an abnormal cluster of cells that multiplies and heaps up on itself in response to some kind of stimulus. That stimulus could be either environmental or genetic.  

If the source is environmental, it’s usually connected to inflammation. Nasal polyps, for instance, often develop due to chronic irritation, whether that’s because of allergies or repeated exposure to inhaled chemicals. 

If the source is genetic, though, it could be due to an inherited condition, including: 

• Lynch syndrome
• Familial adenomatous polyposis
• MUTYH-associated polyposis 
• Peutz-Jeghers syndrome 

But mutations in many genes can cause or fail to suppress polyp formation. So, polyps aren’t always related to one of these disorders.