[Pathology and classification of colorectal polyps]

This survey deals with the principles of classifying colorectal polyps and with the fundamentals of anatomic pathology of these growths. In this connection, the epithelial neoplastic types, which are now known as adenomas, are of particular importance in so far as they are the potential precursors of carcinomas of the colon and rectum (""adenoma cancer sequence''). The polypectomy specimen alone enables definite histo-pathological diagnosis.