Stomach polyps

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Treatments and drugs

By Mayo Clinic staff

Surgical removal
When a stomach polyp is seen during endoscopy, a biopsy is usually taken. If there's concern that it may develop into cancer, it's removed. Surgical removal is done either by the gastroenterologist during another upper endoscopy or, if that can't be done, then by a surgeon through an incision through your abdomen.

Medications
If you have gastritis caused by H. pylori bacteria in your stomach, eradicating the bacteria with antibiotics can reduce the likelihood that your polyps will return. Your doctor can determine whether you have H. pylori through a blood test. Another test requires you to drink a special liquid. Then, a machine analyzes your breath for signs that the bacteria are present in your stomach.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics — probably more than one type — for you to take for several weeks to kill the H. pylori bacteria.

DS00758

July 31, 2008

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