Diverticulosis is a term denoting the presence of several sac-like structures that stem from the mucosa and submucosa of the intestinal wall, and it's almost exclusive location in the large intestine explains why the term "colonic diverticulosis" is used [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. In recent years, it has become evident that colonic diverticulosis is quite commonly found in the senile population primarily living in the Western world, with the single most important risk factor being a low-fiber diet [2] [3] [6]. Furthermore, obesity and certain drug groups (opioids, corticosteroids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs) have also been associated with colonic diverticulosis [2]. The clinical presentation is asymptomatic in 70-80% of patients, which is supported by the fact that they are one of the most frequent incidental findings on colonoscopy [2] [4] [5]. Symptoms may appear in the presence of an infection (termed diverticulitis), while diverticular disease refers to the development of typical lower gastrointestinal tract symptoms - abdominal pain (often on the left side), cramping, fever, and bloating [3] [4] [5] [6]. Altered bowel habits (more commonly constipation than diarrhea) and a sense of fullness in the lower left quadrant are also reported, whereas painless rectal bleeding (abrupt and sometimes voluminous) is a highly indicative sign of an ongoing disease in the lower gastrointestinal tract [5] [6]. Both acute and chronic course of illness has been reported [5].

• Abdominal Pain

  These regular rhythms are associated significantly with reporting of abdominal pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  The majority of patients are asymptomatic, whereas inflammatory changes and infections of diverticula can lead to symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, bloating, and even lower gastrointestinal bleeding. [symptoma.com]

  Similarly, no serological or mucosal inflammation was associated with symptomatic cases of diarrhea or abdominal pain vs asymptomatic controls. [researchers.mq.edu.au]

  Acute diverticulitis • ‘left-sided appendicitis’ • Change in bowel habit eg.constipation • Bloody or purulent stool • pain- colicky abdominal pain • Tenderness- suprapubic, shifting to left iliac fossa. • Local signs of peritonitis • Mass- tender, firm [slideshare.net]

• Abdominal Tenderness

  Abdominal tenderness, fever, nausea, and constipation or diarrhea may also be present. How is colonic diverticulosis diagnosed? Most patients suffering from diverticulosis have no symptoms. [giforkids.com]

  Abdominal tenderness. Constipation or, less commonly, diarrhea. Causes Diverticula usually develop when naturally weak places in your colon give way under pressure. This causes marble-sized pouches to protrude through the colon wall. [mayoclinic.org]

  The most common clinical presentation is abdominal pain, but GCD can be asymptomatic. An abdominal mass is the most usual physical sign, but fever and abdominal tenderness can also be present. [jbsr.be]

• Abdominal Mass

  We present the case of a 84-year-old woman presenting with a painless abdominal mass and constipation. A 30 x 10 cm gas-filled cyst was discovered on abdominal X-ray and CT examination. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  A palpable abdominal mass in a patient with diverticulitis is almost invariably a paracolic inflammatory mass related to acute diverticulitis. [jmedicalcasereports.com]

  The most common clinical presentation is abdominal pain, but GCD can be asymptomatic. An abdominal mass is the most usual physical sign, but fever and abdominal tenderness can also be present. [jbsr.be]

  GIST's are abdominal masses that are rarely found in the colon and are histologically composed of spindle-cells with epithelioid mesenchymal features. [ispub.com]

• Hematochezia

  Images in Clinical Medicine George Triadafilopoulos, M.D. 4 Citing Articles Figure 1 A 42-year-old man with a history of mild, intermittent pain on the lower left side of the abdomen presented with an episode of painless hematochezia. [nejm.org]

  Diverticular bleeding manifests as painless hematochezia. Because the bleeding vessel is an arteriole, the amount of blood loss is usually moderate to severe. [merckmanuals.com]

  The single patient with probable diverticular bleeding presented with one-day history of recurrent moderate hematochezia. His previous colonoscopy was negative except for left-sided diverticulosis. [hindawi.com]

• Lower Abdominal Pain

  More than 30% of patients, but none of the controls, reported episodes of abdominal pain (cramping lower abdominal pain with characteristics similar to those experienced at home) during the occurrence of a regular colonic contractile pattern. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Some patients with diverticulitis experience lower abdominal pain and a fever or they may have rectal bleeding. DIAGNOSIS Diverticulosis often causes no symptoms. It may be diagnosed during screening tests such as a colonoscopy. [fascrs.org]

  If they do, possible symptoms include left lower abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramps, and change in bowel habits. Some patients with diverticulosis can have severe rectal bleeding. These symptoms can also be the result of other conditions. [colonrectal.org]

  • This is a CT scan of sigmoid diverticulitis in a 50yr old male patient with a history of diverticulosis and left lower abdominal pain and tenderness. www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic152.htm 28. Presentation anatpat.unicamp.br/etgi.html 29. [slideshare.net]

The diagnosis of colonic diverticulosis must be considered in old-age patients who present with lower gastrointestinal tract related symptoms. A properly obtained history is the first step, during which assessment of risk factors, such as dietary intake of fiber and use of various drugs, as well as the course and progression of symptoms, should be noted. Physical examination can reveal tenderness in the lower left quadrant in symptomatic patients, while palpation of the sigmoid colon in this area is also seen in colonic diverticulosis [5]. To solidify the diagnosis, imaging studies need to be performed. Barium enema was previously considered as the gold standard in the evaluation of colonic diverticulosis, but in the presence of an intestinal perforation, the contrast material may reach extraintestinal tissue and cause complications [5]. For this reason, computed tomography (CT) has emerged as the optimal procedure [1] [3] [5]. The presence of air-filled pouches arising from the colonic wall, primarily located in the sigmoid colon, are hallmarks of colonic diverticulosis [1]. In addition, ultrasonography has been described as a beneficial method in certain studies, describing diverticula as hypoechoic or anechoic structures protruding from the colonic wall that shows signs of hypertrophy [5]. Finally, colonoscopy should be employed as a definite method if inconclusive findings are obtained from CT or ultrasonography, although CT colonography is becoming a suitable replacement, being less invasive but equally effective than colonoscopy [5].

Diverticulitis may progress into abscess formation, if treatment is delayed, the diverticuli may perforate and cause life threatening peritonitis. Treatment As diverticuli are closed to blood vessels, inflammation may cause bleeding. [colorectal.com.hk]

A RCT, by Trespi and Coll [ 33 ] compared 8 weeks of treatment with oral mesalazine (400 mg twice daily) versus no treatment. [omicsonline.org]

treatment can be administered in hospital or in the outpatient setting. [elsevier.es]

Asymptomatic diverticulosis requires no treatment. When symptoms develop, treatment varies depending on clinical manifestations. [merckmanuals.com]

Recommendations Fluoroscopic Findings Radiographic Findings CT Findings Ultrasonographic Findings General Features Staging, Grading, & Classification Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features Microscopic Features Presentation Demographics Natural History & Prognosis [app.statdx.com]

Treatment and prognosis The majority of patients remain asymptomatic throughout life and no treatment is required. A high fiber diet may reduce the incidence of diverticula and rate of complications 7. [radiopaedia.org]

Course & Prognosis • 10-20% of patients experience complications, mainly diverticulitis and lower GI bleeding. • Conservative management of diverticular disease is preferred. • Surgery reserved for major complications. • In UK, surgery usually for cases [slideshare.net]

A special care and follow-up may be needed in RTRs with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease etiology, smoking history, and coronary artery disease due to higher risk of diverticulosis and subsequent potential diverticulitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] indentations and narrowing of lumen of colon TOP DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES • Giant sigmoid diverticulum Represents chronic, walled-off abscess that communicates with colonic lumen • Diverticulitis Due to perforation of 1 or more diverticula PATHOLOGY • Etiology [radiologykey.com]

The etiology of colonic diverticulosis is multifactorial and not entirely known. [merckmanuals.com]

World J Gastroenterol. 14(15):2411-3, 2008 Martel J et al: History, incidence, and epidemiology of diverticulosis. [app.statdx.com]

PURPOSES: Colonoscopic evidence of epidemiological trends in diverticulosis and diverticular bleeding is scarce. We evaluated trends in diverticular disease and associated factors over 9 years. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

This review appraises existing evidence on the epidemiology and mechanisms of perforation, highlights areas of further study, and suggests an epidemiological approach towards preventing the condition. [pmj.bmj.com]

Furthermore, we provide an overview of pathophysiology, diagnosis and therapeutic options. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] peridiverticulitis in 1907 and underlined the difficulties in distinguishing diverticular disease from malignancy. 11 Telling and Gruner's classic paper describing complex diverticular disease was not published until 1917. 12 At this time the prevalence and pathophysiology [accesssurgery.mhmedical.com]

Case report and overview of pathophysiology, diagnosis and therapeutic options. Acta Chir Belg. 114(3):206-8, 2014 Hirata T et al: Association between colonic polyps and diverticular disease. [app.statdx.com]

RECENT FINDINGS: High-fiber diet does not prevent diverticulosis occurrence, and results about prevention/treatment of diverticular disease and acute diverticulitis are still conflicting.No association was seen between nut, corn or popcorn consumption [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Diet high in fiber increases stool bulk and prevents constipation, and theoretically may help prevent further diverticular formation or worsening of the diverticular condition. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

Increasing fiber in the diet may help to bulk the stools and prevent the formation of new diverticuli, diverticulitis, or diverticular bleeding. Fiber is not proven to prevent these conditions. [nuh.com.sg]

These activities encourage regular bowel activity and help prevent constipation. [livestrong.com]

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4. Hobson KG, Roberts PL. Etiology and Pathophysiology of Diverticular Disease. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2004;17(3):147-153.
5. Salzman H, Lillie D. Diverticular disease: diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2005;72(7):1229-1334.
6. Boynton W, Floch M. New strategies for the management of diverticular disease: insights for the clinician. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2013;6(3):205-213.