Abstract Intestinal polyps occur with sufficient frequency to constitute an important surgical problem. Over 50 per cent of polyps occur in the distal bowel within visualization of the sigmoidoscope. Biopsy of these lesions should be used to exclude malignancy. They may be destroyed or removed by fulguration. Polyps occurring in the proximal segments of the colon should be removed by colotomy. At the time of exploration frozen section should be done and, depending upon the findings, local excision of the polyps or resection of the colon performed. Methods of localization of colonie polyps have been demonstrated and the technic of removal illustrated. A series of seventy-eight colonic polyps removed by colotomy are reported. There were two operative deaths, a mortality of 2.6 per cent. All patients who have been treated for intestinal polyps should be followed carefully by repeated sigmoidoscopic and roentgenographic studies for an indefinite period. They have a higher incidence of subsequent malignancy than normal individuals. Surgical treatment of twenty-three patients with congenital polyposis is recorded. The operative procedure of choice is ileostomy and total colectomy in two stages.