Are polyps, or abnormal tissue growths, a cause for concern?

Polyps are abnormal tissue growths that often look like mushroom stalks. Alarming they may be, are they a cause for concern?

Oncologist Dr. Isaac David Ampil II says there are four types of polyps.

"Ang polyp kasi ay secondary to inflammation or infection. Or maaaring siya ay tumor pero hindi naman cancerous. Maaari siyang tumor na pre-cancerous, meaning later on magiging cancer. O talagang cancer talaga siya," he explained in an episode of Pinoy MD.

It's the latter two types that are dangerous and samples of these tissues need to be subjected to a biopsy.

To be safe, it's advised that patients with these tissue growths have them checked to identify whether they're benign or dangerous.

"'Yung polyp, hindi mo basta-basta masasabi na benign lang 'yan hanggang hindi siya nasusuri talaga," Ampil said.

—JCB, GMA News