Colon polyps may be single or multiple, noninherited or inherited, histologically may vary from inflammatory, hamartomatous, neurogenic, or adenomatous, and may be benign or malignant. The various recognized syndromes are discussed including their clinical presentation, malignant potential, and associated tumors. Recognition of these clinical syndromes will allow the clinician to categorize the patient and the relative risk. The discussion goes into the genetic studies identifying the adenomatous polyposis coli gene on chromosome 5 q21 and the identification of mutations arising in the DNA repair genes (MSA2, MLH1, PMSI, and M52) in the HNPCC syndrome. This identified two divergent pathologies, both involving "multiple hits" with mucosal cells going from normal to adenoma-dysplasia-carcinoma. The understanding of the multiple hit concept with the adenoma-dysplasia-carcinoma progression will aid in the further understanding of the broad neoplastic process.