Causes

Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly way. Mutations in certain genes can cause cells to continue dividing even when new cells aren't needed. In the colon and rectum, this unregulated growth can cause polyps to form. Polyps can develop anywhere in your large intestine.

There are two main categories of polyps, nonneoplastic and neoplastic. Nonneoplastic polyps include hyperplastic polyps, inflammatory polyps and hamartomatous polyps. Nonneoplastic polyps typically do not become cancerous.

Neoplastic polyps include adenomas and serrated types. These polyps have the potential to become cancer if given enough time to grow. Most of these colon polyps are called adenomas. Serrated polyps may also become cancerous, depending on their size and location in the colon. In general, the larger a polyp, the greater the risk of cancer, especially with neoplastic polyps.