Relative growth of adenomatous polyps of the colon. Stereology and allometry of multiple polyposis.

The volume of the adenomatous mucosa (V), the area of the surface epithelium (Ss), the area of the glandular epithelium (Sg), and the Sg: Ss ratio were calculated in a series of 14 adenomatous polyps (APs) of a case of multiple polyposis of the colon. The equation of simple allometry was used to study the relative growth of the four series of values. Ss grew isometrically with size; Sg overgrew Ss and accounted for most of the increase in V. The Sg:Ss ratio increased with Sg and V.