What is the difference between anal polyps and hemorrhoids?

Anal polyps are a type of hemorrhoids, but they are fundamentally different from hemorrhoids. It can be said that anal polyps are disguised as hemorrhoids to confuse people, because both have similar phenomena such as bloody stools and prolapse. So what is the difference between the two?

1. From the perspective of pathological properties.

1. Hemorrhoids are venous masses formed by varicose veins in the anus, which rupture and bleed or form blood clots due to friction with stool and cause severe pain. In clinical medicine, hemorrhoids are divided into three types based on the dentate line: internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids and mixed hemorrhoids.

2. Rectal polyps refer to raised lesions on the surface of the rectal mucosa that protrude into the intestinal cavity. Their pathological properties vary. Some are benign tumors, while others are the result of inflammatory hyperplasia. They are generally similar when observed with the naked eye. Pathologies include adenoma, villous adenoma, juvenile polyps, familial polyposis and inflammatory polyps. Polyps may be precancerous lesions, and some polyps may even turn into rectal cancer.

2. From the cause of the disease:

The main causes of hemorrhoids are habitual constipation, increased portal vein pressure, and increased intra-abdominal pressure; while rectal polyps are mainly caused by inflammatory stimulation, genetic factors, fecal stimulation, etc.

3. From the symptoms:

1. The main symptoms of hemorrhoids are blood in the stool, anal distension, pain and itching. Initially, the toilet paper is stained with blood, and blood dripping and spurting are occasionally seen. In the late stage, hemorrhoids prolapse after defecation, and there is a local foreign body sensation, accompanied by constipation or uncomfortable defecation.

2. The main symptoms of rectal polyps are bloody stools, prolapse, and intestinal irritation symptoms.