The histomorphological and molecular landscape of colorectal adenomas and serrated lesions

Pathologica. 2021 Jun;113(3):218-229. doi: 10.32074/1591-951X-270.

Abstract

The 2019 WHO classification of digestive system tumors significantly reformed the classificatory definition of serrated lesions of the colorectal mucosa and added new essential diagnostic criteria for both conventional adenomas and hereditary gastrointestinal polyposis syndromes. Histopathological examination of colorectal adenocarcinoma precursors lesions represents an important segment of daily clinical practice in a pathology department and is essential for the implementation of current colorectal adenocarcinoma secondary prevention strategies. This overview will focus on a schematic histopathological and molecular classification of precursor lesions arising within colorectal mucosa.

Keywords: BRAF; KRAS; colorectal adenomas; dysplasia; serrated lesions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma* / genetics
  • Adenoma* / genetics
  • Colonic Polyps* / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mutation