Hyperplastic polyps are a type of noncancerous (benign) growths found in the colon. They are usually small. Most often they are found during a routine sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy and are removed.

As a person ages, the number of hyperplastic polyps they have may increase but the polyps do not become cancer.

Hyperplastic polyps look like small precancerous (adenomatous) polyps. If there is a question about whether a polyp is adenomatous, your doctor may take a tissue sample (biopsy).