Diverticular disease

Diverticular disease generally refers to phenomenon involving acquired diverticula along the lower gastrointestinal tract. It covers a range of pathologies and may account for a variety of presentations. Diverticulosis is largely asymptomatic however 4% of individuals with diverticula develop diverticulitis throughout their lifetime ⁵.

Terminology

• diverticulosis: presence of non-inflamed diverticula
• diverticulitis: inflamed diverticulum/diverticula
• diverticular disease: overarching term for any entity involving diverticula

Pathology

Outpouchings of bowel result in blind-ended diverticula in communication with the lumen of the bowel. They most commonly occur within the sigmoid colon, although may arise anywhere along the small/large bowel (although the rectum is very rare ⁴):

• colonic diverticulosis: presence of multiple diverticula within the bowel
  • colonic diverticulitis: inflammation of the diverticula
• small intestine diverticular disease
  • duodenal diverticulosis
  • Meckel diverticulum
  • jejunoileal diverticulosis
    • jejunoileal diverticulitis

See also

• esophageal diverticulosis
• gastric diverticulosis