These polyps are called adenomatous polyps or adenomas. Other names for this condition are hereditary polyposis of the colorectum, familial polyposis, and Gardner syndrome. Individuals with this condition typically develop hundreds to thousands of adenomatous polyps throughout the colon at a young age, usually as a teenager or young adult.
Polyps are abnormal, mushroom-like growths.
When found in the gastrointestinal tract, they occur most commonly inside the colon. Less often, they develop in the stomach and small intestine. They may be so large as to block part of the intestine. In some people, polyps may be inherited, while in others they are not inherited. The condition can be passed on even if the parent has had his or her own colon removed.