A VISUAL STARTING POINT
Shape and tissue type answer different questions
These simplified cross-sections show shapes a clinician may describe. Shape alone does not tell you the tissue type or whether a polyp contains cancer.
A raised growth attached by a narrower stalk.
A raised growth with a broad attachment to the lining.
A subtle, low-lying area with little elevation.
Illustrative shapes only; proportions and colours are not diagnostic. A pathology examination identifies tissue type. Source: American Cancer Society. Independent clinical review pending.
A polyp is a growth, not automatically cancer
Polyps grow on the bowel lining. Many are not cancer, although some types can develop into cancer over time. Removing and examining a polyp helps your team understand what it is.
Shape is one part of the description
Pedunculated means attached by a stalk. Sessile means broad-based. Flat describes a low-lying shape. These visual terms are different from the diagnosis made by a pathologist.
Terms a pathology report may use
- Adenoma: a type that can become cancerous. Reports may describe tubular, tubulovillous, or villous features.
- Hyperplastic polyp: often has a low likelihood of becoming cancerous, particularly when small and in the lower bowel. Your team considers the full finding.
- Sessile serrated lesion or traditional serrated adenoma: serrated tissue types that can require closer attention. “Sessile” in this name is part of the diagnosis, not a way to diagnose a lesion from its shape.
These categories cannot be identified reliably by matching a diagram to a colonoscopy image. The tissue examination matters.
What determines the next step?
Ask about the number, size, location, tissue type, dysplasia, and whether removal was complete. Examination quality and your history also matter. Your clinician should explain when to repeat screening or surveillance; this page does not set a universal interval.
Questions to bring to your team
- What did the final pathology report call the polyp?
- Was it completely removed?
- Was there dysplasia or cancer?
- When is follow-up due, and why?
This is general education for U.S. readers, not a diagnosis or a personal screening plan. Talk with your clinician about your own history and symptoms. Follow your clinic’s instructions.