A person with intestinal polyps has tiny, non-cancerous growths on the inside of the intestine. Intestinal polyps are made up of cells that line the intestine. The polyp is a ball of tissue, attached to the intestinal wall by a stalk.

About 30 percent of adults in the US have intestinal polyps. Most polyps can be surgically removed during colonoscopy. Left untreated, intestinal polyps can develop into colorectal cancer.