What are some typical findings of diverticulitis on CT?
Pericolic stranding (often disproportionately prominent compared to the amount of bowel wall thickening), segmental thickening of the bowel wall, enhancement of the colonic wall, diverticular perforation (extravasation of air and fluid into the pelvis and peritoneal cavity), abscess formation and fistula formation
What are the differential diagnosis for diverticulitis?
Colorectal carcinoma, acute appendicitis, epiploic appendagitis, ischaemic colitis, pseudomembranous colitis, inflammatory bowel disease
Extensive stranding is in no surrounding the proximal sigmoid colon over a length of approximately 8 cm (where a number of diverticula are present).
No free intra-abdominal gas can be identified. No fluid collection to suggest abscess formation. No evidence of bowel obstruction.
The remainder of the large bowel is unremarkable.
The appendix is normal.
The liver is markedly fatty with regions of presumed focal fatty sparing involving the posterior part of segments two and three as well as the gallbladder fossa.
A number of small well circumscribed hypoattenuation region is most likely represent cysts - this can be confirmed electively with an ultrasound.
The spleen, pancreas, adrenal glands are and kidneys are normal in appearance other than the right kidney having a 1.5 cm simple cyst in its mid pole.
Conclusion:
The features are those of diverticulitis, with no evidence of perforation or abscess formation.