(villous adenoma) A neoplasm that grows in the colon and other places in the gastrointestinal tract and sometimes in other parts of the body. These adenomas may become malignant (cancerous).

(villous adenoma) An adenoma arising from the glandular epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract. It is characterized by the presence of a villous architectural pattern. Most often it occurs in the large intestine, small intestine, and the stomach. The neoplastic epithelial cells show dysplastic features.

An adenoma of the large intestine. It is usually a solitary, sessile, often large, tumor of colonic mucosa composed of mucinous epithelium covering delicate vascular projections. Hypersecretion and malignant changes occur frequently. (Stedman, 25th ed)

Adenomatous polyps are, by definition, neoplastic. Although benign, they are the direct precursors of adenocarcinomas and follow a predictable cancerous temporal course unless interrupted by treatment.