Colonic polyp. Colonoscope (endoscope) view of a benign (non-cancerous) polyp in a patient's colon (large intestine). This is a lipoma, a tumour arising from fatty tissue. If the polyp causes discomfort, for instance by obstructing the flow of food along the intestine, it is removed surgically. Some types of polyp may turn cancerous, and are removed as soon as they are discovered.