Colorectal Polyps can be divided into two broad categories: Neoplastic and non-neoplastic. Neoplastic polyps are adenomas and have the potential to develop into malignant cancers. The  incidence of colorectal malignancies are 2 to 5 times higher in patients with adenomatous polyps than in those without them. Patients with multiple polyps are twice as likely to develop carcinomas as patients with a single polyp. The diagnosis of colonic polyps is made at colonoscopy by the gastroenterologist, and if the biopsy is shown to be that of a malignant polyp, the patient should proceed to surgery. However, a significant number of polyps are benign in nature and after removal do not require surgery.
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