Colon
Noninfectious colitis
Diverticular colitis
Author: Hanni Gulwani, M.B.B.S.
Last author update: 1 May 2013
Last staff update: 24 May 2021
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: diverticular colitis
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Pathophysiology | Treatment | Microscopic (histologic) description | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Gulwani H. Diverticular colitis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/colondiverticulardisease.html. Accessed April 18th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Colitis related to diverticular disease (diverticulosis) (Pathology 2002;34:568, Colorectal Dis 2002;4:208, Am J Gastroenterol 1992;87:609, Dig Dis 2012;30:29)
- Also called segmental colitis associated with diverticula
- Affects sigmoid colon only with rectal sparing (Am J Surg Pathol 1996;20:94)
- Usually presents with rectal bleeding
- Good prognosis (Endoscopy 2006;38:610); does not appear to evolve to inflammatory bowel disease (Int J Colorectal Dis 2005;20:28)
Pathophysiology
- Due to mucosal prolapse, fecal stasis and relative mucosal ischaemia; also subserosal peridiverticulitis and suppuration causing mass effect (Pathology 2002;34:568)
Treatment
- High fiber diet, antibiotics, aminosalicylates; surgery may be necessary (Colorectal Dis 2001;3:149)
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Transmural inflammation with expansion of lamina propria, cryptitis and crypt abscesses, lymphoid aggregates and distorted crypt architecture
Differential diagnosis
- Inflammatory bowel disease and acute self-limited colitis have different clinical history
