Polyps of the Large Intestine

Abstract

A wide range of mucosal and submucosal lesions can result in polyp formation. Non-neoplastic polyps of the large bowel comprise inflammatory polyps and hamartomatous polyps. The vast majority originate from the epithelial component of the mucosa, and are divided into conventional adenomas and serrated polyps. Most adenomatous polyps are asymptomatic unless they become very large and cause bleeding or anemia. Serrated polyps are a group of epithelial polyps that share a common architectural pattern of “sawtooth” or serrated crypts. Inflammatory polyps are non-neoplastic lesions, which develop secondary to local injury to the colonic mucosa. Mesenchymal polyps comprise cell proliferations from the stromal component of the large bowel wall, including smooth muscle, neural component, adipose tissue, blood vessels, and other stromal lesions of unclear origin. Cronkhite–Canada syndrome is a non-hereditary proteinlosing enteropathy of unknown cause, often classified with hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, and most likely represents an immune dysregulation disorder.