Diverticular disease is an overarching term for any pathology involving a diverticula but when not otherwise specified usually refers to colonic diverticular disease and associated sequelae.
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Terminology
There is overlap in terms used to describe the pathologies associated with colonic diverticula 6:
diverticulosis: presence of non-inflamed diverticula
diverticulitis: inflamed diverticulum/diverticula
diverticular disease: overarching term for any entity involving diverticula including diverticulosis, diverticulitis, diverticular hemorrhage, etc
Clinical presentation
Diverticulosis is largely asymptomatic, however, 4% of individuals with diverticula develop diverticulitis throughout their lifetime 5.
Pathology
Outpouchings of GI tract result in blind-ended diverticula in communication with the lumen of the gastrointestinal system. They most commonly occur within the sigmoid colon, although may arise anywhere from the oral cavity to the anal verge (although rectal or anal diverticula are very rare 4):
oral diverticula: rare
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large bowel diverticular disease
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colonic diverticulosis: presence of multiple diverticula within the large bowel
colonic diverticulitis: inflammation of the diverticula
rectal diverticulosis: very rare
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anal diverticulosis: extremely rare