Diverticulitis

Colon (tumor & nontumor)

Diverticular disease

Diverticulitis

Topic Completed: 1 September 2014

Revised: 8 January 2019, last major update September 2014

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PubMed Search: colon diverticulitis[title]

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Cite this page: Gulwani H. Diverticulitis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/colondiverticulitis.html. Accessed August 3rd, 2020.

Definition / general

Begins as diverticulosis (colonic outpouchings), which may develop into diverticulitis (diverticular inflammation and perforation) (eMedicine #1, #2)
May be due to obstruction of diverticulum by inspissated feces / fecolith, leading to bacterial overgrowth, gas and toxin production, mucosal injury (J Clin Gastroenterol 2008;42:1137)
Radiologically may resemble carcinoma (World J Gastroenterol 2012;18:3623)
May be more aggressive in younger patients (World J Gastroenterol 2006;12:2932)
Chronic diverticulitis: distinct pathologic entity characterized by chronic obstructive symptoms and abdominal pain (AJR Am J Roentgenol 2008;191:522)

Clinical features

Clinically may resemble appendicitis

Case reports

63 year old woman presenting with tubo-ovarian abscess and subsequent colon perforation (World J Gastrointest Surg 2011;3:70)

Treatment

Liquid diet (bowel rest) and oral antibiotics; surgical resection if perforation, fistula, obstruction, persistent pain, hemorrhage, repeated attacks or immunocompromise (J Clin Gastroenterol 2006;40:S145)

Gross images

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