What Your Results Mean
Medical results are often handed over with limited explanation, in language that assumes more background than most people have. This page translates some of the most common findings from anorectal exams and colonoscopy into plain language.
- Most findings from these exams are benign and don’t require anything beyond what’s already been discussed with you.
- “Polyp” doesn’t mean cancer — most polyps are benign, and removing them during colonoscopy is itself a preventive measure, not a treatment for an existing cancer.
- If anything in your results or the terms used isn’t clear, asking your doctor directly to explain it in plain terms is a normal and reasonable request.
Common findings, explained
“Internal/external hemorrhoids, Grade [I–IV]” — confirms hemorrhoidal tissue was seen, graded by how much it prolapses (I: no prolapse, up to IV: permanently prolapsed). This is a description of severity, not a separate diagnosis beyond “hemorrhoids.”
“Polyp(s) found and removed” — a growth was identified and taken out during the same procedure. Most polyps are benign (not cancerous). The tissue is typically sent to a lab (pathology) to confirm what type it was, which determines how soon your next colonoscopy should be.
“Adenoma” or “adenomatous polyp” — a specific type of polyp that has some potential to become cancerous over time if left in place, which is exactly why it’s removed when found. Having one doesn’t mean you have or will develop cancer — it means routine screening did what it’s supposed to do, catching something before it became a problem.
“Hyperplastic polyp” — generally a different, typically lower-risk type of polyp compared to an adenoma; your doctor can explain the specific follow-up implications based on size and location.
“No abnormalities found” / “clean colonoscopy” — nothing concerning was identified in the portion of the colon examined. This is a reassuring result, though it’s specific to the exam performed (see Flexible sigmoidoscopy for why a sigmoidoscopy result and a full colonoscopy result aren’t equivalent in scope).
“Positive FIT” or “positive stool test” — blood or relevant markers were detected in your stool sample. This requires a follow-up colonoscopy to find the source — it is not itself a diagnosis of cancer, and many positive results turn out to be from hemorrhoids or a fissure. See FIT and stool-based tests.
“Anal fissure, acute/chronic” — confirms a tear in the anal lining, with “chronic” indicating it’s been present longer than about 6–8 weeks, which affects the recommended treatment approach.
“Internal anal sphincter hypertonicity” — a finding sometimes noted alongside a chronic fissure, referring to excess tightness in the internal sphincter muscle, part of why some fissures don’t heal on their own and need medication or a procedure to relax the muscle.
Questions worth asking if a result isn’t clear
- “What does this specific term mean in plain language?”
- “Does this finding change anything about how urgently I need follow-up?”
- “When should my next exam be, and why that specific timing?”
- “Is there anything in this result that’s a reason for me to come back sooner than we discussed?”
A general note on results
A single word in a report — even one that sounds alarming, like “adenoma” — often carries far less weight than it initially seems, once it’s explained in context. Asking directly, rather than searching a specific term in isolation, tends to give a more accurate and less alarming picture of what a result actually means for you specifically.
This page is for general education and describes common findings in general terms. Your own results and their specific implications should be discussed directly with the clinician who performed your exam.