[Polyps of the proximal colon: rightward shift, malignancy potential and symptomatology]

To evaluate the neoplastic risk of polyps of the right hemicolon we assigned 202 polyps larger than 4 mm, consecutively resected, to two groups according to their location, proximal or distal to the splenic flexure. We compared sex and age of the patients and the following characteristics of the polyps: size 10 mm and over, adenomatous and villous component, presence of severe dysplasia and absence of a stalk. We found that polyps in the proximal colon were less frequently dysplastic and smaller; on the other side fewer of them had a stalk. A significant rightward shift was observed in the male patients over 65 years old. Apparently right hemicolon polyps are less prone to overt clinical bleeding.