Tubulo - Villous Adenoma - Endoscopy (1 of 28)

An 81 year-old female that was suffering anemia and was referred to us for colonoscopic evaluation, Four polyps were found, two at the rectum and two at the sigmoid, as well as multiple diverticulae. Adenomatous polyps are, by definition, neoplastic. Although benign, they are the direct precursors of adenocarcinomas and follow a predictable cancerous temporal course unless interrupted by treatment. They can be either pedunculated or sessile. Adenomas are divided into 3 subtypes based on histologic criteria, (1) tubular, (2) tubulovillous, and (3) villous. According to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, villous adenomas are composed of greater than 80% villous architecture. Tubular adenomas are encountered most frequently (80-86%). Tubulovillous adenomas are encountered less frequently (8-16%), and villous adenomas are encountered least frequently (5%).