Bladder growths, often referred to as bladder polyps, are abnormalities that form within the organ responsible for storing urine. These findings frequently cause concern, prompting people to seek clarity on their nature and future risks. Understanding what these masses are and whether they represent a serious health threat requires a detailed look at the biology of the bladder lining. This information is relevant for anyone who has experienced symptoms like blood in the urine or been identified with a mass during a medical exam.
What Exactly Are Bladder Polyps?
A bladder polyp is a descriptive term for a mass or growth that projects from the lining of the bladder wall into the hollow space of the organ. These growths arise from an overgrowth of the specialized cells lining the bladder, called the urothelium. Polyps vary in appearance, sometimes presenting as small, finger-like projections attached to a stalk (pedunculated), or appearing flatter and broader (sessile). The term “polyp” describes the physical shape, similar to a mushroom or cauliflower-like structure, but it is not a diagnosis of the growth’s pathology. Polyps can occur anywhere on the bladder wall and indicate abnormal cell multiplication, but their presence does not determine if the growth is harmless or poses a risk.
How Common Are Bladder Polyps?
Bladder polyps are not a common finding in the general population but become more frequent in individuals with specific risk factors. The majority of masses removed from the bladder are urothelial tumors, and bladder cancer is one of the more common cancers overall. Approximately 82,290 new cases of bladder cancer were estimated in the United States in 2023.
The likelihood of developing these growths is strongly influenced by exposure to carcinogens and chronic irritation. Smoking is the largest risk factor, accounting for roughly half of all bladder cancer cases because tobacco chemicals concentrate in the urine, damaging the urothelium. Age is another factor, with nine out of ten people diagnosed being over the age of 55.
Other significant risk factors include occupational exposure to chemicals, particularly aromatic amines used in manufacturing dyes, rubber, and textiles. Chronic irritation from recurrent urinary tract infections, long-term catheter use, or bladder stones can also increase the risk of abnormal cell growth. Furthermore, men are at a greater risk than women for developing these growths.
Determining Benign vs. Malignant
The most important step after a bladder mass is identified is determining whether it is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), which cannot be done by imaging alone. The word “polyp” is often used clinically to refer to any mass, making a biopsy necessary for definitive diagnosis. The growth is surgically removed via transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) for pathological assessment.
Benign growths include inflammatory polyps, which are typically a response to chronic irritation, and simple papillomas, which are non-cancerous urothelial growths. However, a significant portion of masses found in the bladder are malignant urothelial carcinoma, the most common type of bladder cancer. Some studies suggest that roughly 50% of tested bladder polyps turn out to be malignant.
Early detection is important because most bladder cancers present as non-muscle-invasive tumors, which have a much better prognosis than those that have spread deeper into the bladder wall. Even after treatment, malignant bladder tumors have a high rate of recurrence. For this reason, anyone with an identified bladder mass requires close and consistent medical follow-up to monitor for any new or returning abnormal growths.