adenomatous

Adenomatous is an adjective used in pathology to describe tissues, lesions, or growths that show glandular (adeno-) differentiation or that resemble an adenoma. In this sense, the term indicates a gland-forming pattern and is often applied to neoplastic or proliferative processes that originate from glandular epithelium. The descriptor does not by itself determine malignancy, but it is frequently associated with lesions that can be premalignant or require histological assessment to establish behavior.

The term is most commonly encountered in reference to polyps in the colon. Adenomatous polyps arise from the mucosal epithelium and exhibit glandular proliferation; they are considered premalignant because they can acquire dysplasia and progress toward colorectal cancer through the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Colorectal adenomas are categorized by histology into tubular, villous, or tubulovillous types, with villous features and higher dysplasia corresponding to greater cancer risk. Clinical management typically involves endoscopic resection and risk-based surveillance.

Adenomatous-type proliferations can also occur in other tissues with glandular components, such as the stomach or endometrium, where lesions may be described as adenomatous or as adenomas with glandular differentiation. In these contexts, the term helps distinguish gland-forming proliferations from non-glandular or non-neoplastic processes. Evaluation by pathology, including histologic subtype and degree of dysplasia, guides prognosis and management.