Abstract
One hundred thirty seven adenomas of the colon from 112 patients were identified by histological examination of surgically or colonoscopically removed adenomas All lesions had a radial diameter of 1.0 cm or less. Fifty six of 137 adenomas (41%) contained high-grade epithelial dysplasia, twenty five patients had multiple adenomas, Colonoscopically and grossly, the lesions were described as sessile, tubular, villous or tubulo vilous growth. These lesions may be precursors of small, flat, ulcerated colonic carcinomas. Our study encompasses the histology and differential diagnosis of screen detected polyps, focusing on features which discriminate lesions at highest risk of malignant transformation.