Diverticular Disorders of the Colon

Abstract

Disorders in which colonic diverticula occur can be divided into three types.

The most common is colonic diverticulosis, with symptomless diverticula. Acute diverticulitis is characterized by acute inflammation of a diverticulum and complications. The term “diverticular disease” is used for the complex of colicky pain, bowel disturbance, and subacute or acute intestinal obstruction without evidence of inflammation. In this last type, symptoms result from disturbance of the muscle wall of the colon rather than the diverticula themselves.