Polypoid: Definition

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Polypoid means shaped like a polyp. Pathologists and other doctors use the term to describe a growth or area of tissue that sticks up from a surface, forming a rounded bump or mushroom-like projection. It describes the shape of a growth, not what the growth is. The word polypoid does not indicate whether a growth is benign (noncancerous), precancerous, or malignant (cancerous); pathologists determine that by examining the cells under a microscope. This article explains what polypoid means, how the shape is recognized, and why it appears on a pathology report.

What does polypoid mean?

A polypoid growth is one that projects outward from the surface it grows on, rather than lying flat or growing down into the tissue below. The name comes from its resemblance to a polyp, which is a growth that sticks out from the lining of an organ such as the colon, stomach, nose, or bladder.

Doctors often describe the shape of a polypoid growth in more detail using two related words:

Pedunculated — The growth is attached to the surface by a narrow stalk, a bit like a mushroom.
Sessile — The growth sits on a broad base, without a stalk.

Polypoid is a general description of shape. It can describe a true polyp, and it can also describe other growths, including some cancers, that project outward in the same way. For this reason, shape alone does not determine the diagnosis.

Why does a report describe a growth as polypoid?

Describing a growth as polypoid tells you how it looked to the doctor or pathologist. The shape matters because it helps locate and measure the growth, guides how it is removed, and is one detail compared with the microscopic findings. A growth that projects outward, for example, may be easier to remove completely during a procedure than one that spreads flat along a surface. The shape is only a starting point, though; what the growth actually is depends on how the cells look under the microscope.

What can a polypoid growth turn out to be?

When a polypoid growth is examined under the microscope, it can turn out to be many different things, ranging from harmless to cancerous. In the colon, common examples include:

Hyperplastic polyp — A common, noncancerous growth with very low risk.
Adenoma — A precancerous growth that can slowly develop into cancer if it is not removed.
Inflammatory polyp — A noncancerous growth that forms in response to long-standing irritation or inflammation.
Sessile serrated lesion — A growth that can carry a risk of developing into cancer over time.
Cancer — Some cancers grow in a polypoid shape. A polypoid growth found to contain cancer cells may be described as a malignant polyp or a polypoid carcinoma.

Polypoid growths in other organs, such as the stomach, nose, cervix, and bladder, can likewise be benign, precancerous, or cancerous. Microscopic examination, not shape, determines which.

How is a polypoid growth examined?

A polypoid growth is usually first seen during a procedure such as a colonoscopy, an endoscopy, a cystoscopy (for the bladder), or on an imaging test. During the procedure, the doctor may remove the growth completely or take a small sample (a biopsy). A pathologist then examines the tissue under the microscope to determine exactly what the growth is and whether it contains any precancerous or cancerous changes. Under the microscope, the pathologist looks at both the overall shape (including whether it has a stalk or a broad base) and the detailed appearance of the cells.

What happens after a polypoid growth is examined?

After the pathologist examines the growth, your doctor will review the findings with you. If the growth is benign and was completely removed, you may need no further treatment, though routine follow-up or repeat screening may still be recommended. If precancerous or cancerous cells are found, your doctor will discuss the next steps, which could include additional procedures, treatment, or monitoring. Whether anything further is needed depends on what the growth turned out to be, not on the word polypoid itself.

Questions to ask your doctor

What did the polypoid growth in my sample turn out to be?
Was it benign, precancerous, or cancerous?
Was the growth completely removed?
Do I need any further treatment or follow-up testing?
How often should I have follow-up exams or screening?
Is there anything I can do to lower my risk of developing more growths like this?