Colon polyps are of two particular types. These are hyperplastic and adenomatous. Hyperplastic polyps are benign and do not indicate any future problems with colon cancer. Adenomatous polyps are precancerous and, if left in place, can eventually develop into colon cancer. These are the types of polyps that are sought by the gastroenterologist during a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Since the adenomatous polyp is benign, removal of the polyp results in a significant decrease in the chances that a patient will develop colon cancer.
