Recent trends in the prevalence and distribution of colonic diverticula in Japan evaluated using computed tomography colonography.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography colonography (CTC) may be superior to colonoscopy and barium enema for detecting diverticula. However, few studies have used CTC to diagnose diverticula. AIM: To evaluate the current prevalence and distribution of colonic diverticula in Japan using CTC. METHODS: This study was conducted as part of the Japanese National Computed Tomographic Colonography Trial, which included 1181 participants from 14 hospitals in Japan. We analyzed the prevalence and distribution of colonic diverticula and their relationships with age and sex. The relationship between the diverticula and the length of the large intestine was also analyzed. RESULTS: Diverticulosis was present in 48.1% of the participants. The prevalence of diverticulosis was higher in the older participants (P < 0.001 for trend). The diverticula seen in younger participants were predominantly located in the right-sided colon. Older participants had a higher frequency of bilateral type (located in the right- and left-sided colon) diverticulosis (P < 0.001 for trend). The length of the large intestine with multiple diverticula in the sigmoid colon was significantly shorter in those without diverticula (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of colonic diverticulosis in Japan is higher than that previously reported. The prevalence was higher, and the distribution tended to be bilateral in older participants.

[Ultrasound diagnosis of chronic paracolic inflammatory mass in diverticular disease]. / Ul'trazvukovaya diagnostika khronicheskogo parakolicheskogo infil'trata pri divertikulyarnoi bolezni obodochnoi kishki.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound in diagnosis of chronic paracolic inflammatory mass in patients with diverticular disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed ultrasonic findings in 216 patients with chronic inflammatory complications of colonic diverticular disease. Chronic paracolic inflammatory mass as the most common and significant chronic complication of diverticular disease was analyzed in 116 patients. Ultrasonic findings were compared with specimen assessment, intraoperative data, irrigoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound and computed tomography data. RESULTS: Sensitivity of ultrasound for diagnosis of chronic paracolic inflammatory mass was 76,7%, specificity - 100%, overall accuracy - 87,5%. CT and endoscopic ultrasound were the most informative among different diagnostic tools (sensitivity 79,6% and 77,8%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonic examination and computed tomography are the most valuable methods for diagnosis of chronic paracolic inflammatory mass in patients with diverticular disease. Ultrasound is a first-line method for diagnosis and follow-up of complicated diverticular disease due to its availability, safety and unnecessary special preparation of patients.

Prevalencia de divertículos colónicos asintomáticos en población chilena como hallazgo imagenológico en tomografía de abdomen y pelvis / Prevalence of asymptomatic colonic diverticula in Chilean population as an imaging finding in abdominal and pelvic tomography

INTRODUCCIÓN: La prevalencia de diverticulosis colónica en población general varía entre 20-60% según referencias internacionales, sin embargo, hay escasos datos nacionales. Un buen método para la detección de esta entidad es la tomografía computarizada de abdomen y pelvis (TACP). OBJETIVOS: Determinar la prevalencia de diverticulosis colónica en población general como hallazgo en tomografías computarizadas de abdomen y pelvis. MATERIALES Y MÉTODO: Estudio de corte transversal con estadística observacional, seleccionando pacientes sin antecedentes de diverticulosis que se realizaron TCAP en un hospital clínico en un periodo de 3 meses. Se revisan 1.449 TCAP y se incluyen 1.177 casos. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia general de divertículos colónicos fue de 28,3%, esta cifra aumenta con la edad alcanzando un 60% en mayores de 80 años. Casi un 90% se localizan en colon izquierdo, y los casos en lado derecho se acumulan en menores de 60 años. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia global de diverticulosis, detectadas por TCAP en esta población, corresponde a cerca del 30% de los pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Asymptomatic colonic diverticular prevalence varies in the general population between 20 and 60% in international references, however, we couldn't find statistics about it in national reports. A method for detection of this nosological entity is the abdomen and pelvis computed tomography. AIM: Determine the prevalence of asymptomatic colonic diverticulosis in the general population as a find in abdomen and pelvis computed tomography (TCAP). MATERIALS AND METHOD: Cross-sectional study with descriptive statistics, selecting patients with no history of diverticulosis, who underwent TCAP in our Hospital. 1,449 cases are reviewed and 1,177 are included. RESULTS: The general prevalence of colonic diverticula was 28.3%. Their presence increases with age, being close to 60% in > 80 years. Almost 90% are located in the left colon, being more frequent the right side diverticulosis in population under 60 years. CONCLUSIONS B The overall prevalence of asymptomatic colonic diverticulosis, detected as a finding in TCAP, corresponds to about one third of patients.

Development and usefulness of the new endoscopic classification: DICA.

Colonic Diverticulosis is one of the most common anatomical findings during colonoscopy. This condition has 60% incidence in the population over 60 years old. About 20% of patients will develop Diverticular Disease, and 5% of them will evolve into Diverticulitis. Until the last years there weren't any approaches for the endoscopic classification of this pathology. In 2013, in Florence, the first endoscopic classification was developed: DICA (Diverticular Inflammation and Complication Assessment). The aim of this article is to focus on the process of the development and the validation of the classification by the pool of gastroenterology experts, and, as well, its usefulness during the clinical practice.

Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography: a new ERAS item.

ERAS protocol and indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG-FA) represent the new surgical revolution minimizing complications and shortening recovery time in colorectal surgery. As of today, no studies have been published in the literature evaluating the impact of the ICG-FA in the ERAS protocol for the patients suitable for colorectal surgery. The aim of our study was to assess whether the systematic evaluation of intestinal perfusion by ICG-FA could improve patients outcomes when managed with ERAS perioperative protocol, thus reducing surgical complication rate. This is a retrospective case-control study. From March 2014 to April 2017, 182 patients underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery for benign and malignant diseases. All the patients were enrolled in ERAS protocol. Two groups were created: Group A comprehended 107 patients managed within the ERAS pathway only and Group B comprehended 75 patients managed as well as with ERAS pathway plus the intraoperative assessment of intestinal perfusion with ICG-FA. Two board-certified laparoscopic colorectal surgeons jointly performed all procedures. Six (5.6%) clinically relevant anastomotic leakages (AL) occurred in Group A, while there was none in Group B, demonstrating that ICG-FA integrated in the ERAS protocol can lead to a statistically significant reduction of the AL. Mean operative time between the two groups was not statistically significant. In five cases (6.6%), the demarcation line set by the fluorescence made the surgeon change the resection line previously marked. The prevalence of all other complications did not differ statistically between the two groups. Our study confirms that combination between ICG and ERAS protocol is feasible and safe and reduces the anastomotic leakage, possibly leading to consider ICG-FA as a new ERAS item.

[Epidemiological investigation of colonic diverticulosis detected by computed tomography colonography].

Among 586 patients who underwent computed tomography colonography (CTC) from May 2012 to September 2017, 333 were diagnosed with colonic diverticulosis. The incidence of colonic diverticulosis increases with age. Despite a high frequency of ascending colonic diverticulosis, multiple diverticulosis (>10 in a colonic segment) were the most frequent in the sigmoid colon. In previous studies, the frequency of detection of colonic diverticulosis by CTC was higher than that by colonoscopy and barium enema. In addition, using CTC, the detection rate of colonic diverticulosis has been recently increasing, suggesting that CTC is the most sensitive procedure for detecting colonic diverticulosis.

A critical appraisal of advances in the diagnosis of diverticular disease.

INTRODUCTION: Diverticulosis of the colon is a common condition, and about one-fourth of those people develop symptoms, which is called 'diverticular disease' (DD). Since there are still some concerns about the diagnosis of DD, the aim of this review was to analyze current and evolving advances in its diagnosis. Area covered: Analysis of clinical, radiology, laboratory, and endoscopic tools to pose a correct diagnosis of DD was performed according to current PubMed literature. Expert commentary: A combination of clinical characteristic of the abdominal pain and fecal calprotectin expression may help to differentiate between symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scan is still the gold standard in diagnosing acute diverticulitis and its complications. CT-colonography may be useful as a predicting tool on the outcome of the disease. Diverticular Inflammation and Complications Assessment (DICA) endoscopic classification shows a significant relationship between severity of DICA score inflammatory indexes, as well as with severity of abdominal pain. Moreover, it seems to be predictive of the outcome of the disease in terms of acute diverticulitis occurrence/recurrence and surgery occurrence. Finally, preliminary data found intestinal microbiota analysis is a promising tool in diagnosing and monitoring this disease.

Colonic diverticulosis in an infant: A clue to total colonic Hirschsprung disease.

Total colonic aganglionosis is a rare phenotype of Hirschsprung disease (HD). While the diagnosis is generally established within the neonatal period there are reports of delayed presentation. In this case, we describe a 9-month old girl with no previous medical or surgical history who presented with a small bowel obstruction. A contrast enema performed as part of the work up demonstrated right sided colonic diverticula with no other anatomical abnormalities. Surgical intervention was required to manage the obstruction and colonic biopsies were consistent with HD. This case highlights the association of the unusual finding of colonic diverticula with total colonic HD in infants.

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia induced by nasal decongestant.

INTRODUCTION: Lipoid pneumonia is a clinical condition that may be initially asymptomatic or confused with an infectious or malignant lung disease. OBJECTIVES: We report four cases of this pathological condition. METHODS: The first case concerned an 85-year old woman with bilateral confluent pulmonary opacities, ground-glass type. Diagnosis was based on the cytology of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid followed by its ultrastructural examination. The second case was a 47-year-old man with an isolated pulmonary nodule, which was surgically removed; the diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia was formulated on the basis of the histological and electron microscopy examination. The third case concerned a 73-year-old woman, with bilateral hypodense areas at the bases of the lungs where FDG PET/CT scan showed an increased uptake. Diagnosis was formulated by BAL cytology and electron microscopy examination. The fourth case was a 69-year-old man, who performed a virtual colonoscopy for diverticulosis putting in evidence a round mass (3 cm in diameter) with two small peripheral nodules, located in the pulmonary left lower lobe. The histopathological examination of transthoracic biopsy confirmed a lipoid pneumonia. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In all four cases, it was put in evidence a prolonged use of a nasal decongestant containing mineral oils. In literature, the most cases described are characterized by a subclinical evolution and were presented as ground glass opacities which evolve, in the later phases, in an interstitial involvement or in a peripheral mass, simulating a lung tumour.

Foreign bodies in sigmoid colon diverticulosis.

This review addresses the management of sigmoid colon diverticular disease associated with foreign bodies. In addition, two novel cases are presented. One case describes the management of diverticular bleeding secondary to a chicken bone and the other case reports retrieval of a retained EndoRings™ Device. The review identified 40 relevant publications including 50 subjects. Foreign bodies within sigmoid diverticular disease may be associated with inflammation, perforation, abscess and fistula. In current practice, diagnosis is often achieved with CT scan. Patients with colonic perforation or fistula generally require colonic resection. Patients with inflammation may merit conservative management, including colonoscopic foreign body retrieval. Chicken bones, tooth picks, and biliary stents have been reported in patients with inflammation, perforation and fistula, whereas all published patients with fish bone related diverticulosis complications experienced inflammation. Treatment might be best guided by the consequences of the foreign body rather than the nature of the underlying retained object. Diverticular bleeding secondary to a chicken bone was diagnosed at CT angiography and treated with colonoscopic snare retrieval of the bone and clipping of the bleeding diverticulum. The EndoRings™ Device was retrieved with a colonoscopic balloon.

Complicated diverticulitis in a de novo kidney transplanted patient.

Diverticular disease is frequent amongst the elderly and immunosuppressed patients. It mainly presents as sigmoid diverticulitis, but severe complications, like bleedings, infections and colon perforation may occur, frequently due to immunosuppressive therapy. Moreover, antibiotherapy and hemostatics may not efficiently control evolution in such cases. Early diagnose and adequate treatment of colonic diverticulosis complicated with lower gastrointestinal bleeding and diverticulitis in immunocompromised patients. We report a 55-year-old patient who underwent de novo renal transplantation one year ago and recently developed a severe diverticular bleeding complicated by hemorrhagic shock. Colonoscopic examination revealed diverticular disease with diverticulitis and severe, diffuse bleeding, mainly in the descending colon. Due to his immunocompromised status and unfavorable evolution under hemostatics, recombinant coagulation factor VIIa (rFVIIa) was given to avoid surgery. The bleeding stopped after two doses of rFVIIa. Unfortunately, after three weeks, lower quadrant pain, tenderness, abdominal distention, and fever occurred, in spite of immunosuppressive drug changing and adequate conservative therapy. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed complicated diverticulitis, so patient underwent surgery, with partial colectomy, followed by total recovery. In conclusion, diverticulosis coli complicated with lower gastrointestinal bleeding and diverticulitis in immunocompromised patients was for us a challenging diagnosis, as well as a therapeutic issue. Treatment options, usually based on our local resources and expertise, considered conservatory therapy as the first choice, keeping surgical maneuvers just as a rescue solution.

Colonic Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis in Renal Transplant Recipients: Management and Long-Term Outcomes.

Data regarding management of colonic diverticulitis in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) are limited. This study aims to identify prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes in RTRs with colonic diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Between January 2004 and December 2013, all patients who underwent kidney transplantation were analyzed. Among all RTSs, patients who had a pretransplant colonoscopic diagnosis of diverticulosis and patients with a proven attack of diverticulitis were included in our analysis. There were 1578 RTRs with a mean age of 50 ± 14 years at the time of transplantation. Of these, 409 patients had colonoscopic evaluation and 174 (43%) were diagnosed with diverticular disease. Fifteen (0.9%) out of 1578 developed a primary attack of diverticulitis. Two patients underwent a Hartmann's procedure due to perforation. Among 13 patients who were initially treated nonoperatively, 4 required surgery due to refractory diverticulitis (n = 2) and recurrence (n = 2). Tobacco use (59% vs 48%, P = 0.02), increased age (58 vs 51 years, P < 0.0001), diabetes (33% vs 35%, P = 0.03), coronary artery disease (38% vs 22%, P = 0.001), and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease etiology (P = 0.04) were more common in RTRs with diverticulosis. Majority of RTRs with diverticulitis can be managed nonoperatively. Surgical treatment is warranted in patients with perforated, persistent, and recurrent diverticulitis. 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.

Therapeutic impact of colon capsule endoscopy with PillCam™ COLON 2 after incomplete standard colonoscopy: a Spanish multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) is an alternative approach for the examination of the colon in patients who refuse colonoscopy or after incomplete colonoscopy (IC). We conducted a study to determine the frequency of complete colonoscopy after IC, the diagnostic yield of CCE, the therapeutic impact of lesions found in CCE, the level of colon cleanliness and the safety of the procedure. METHODS: We performed a prospective, multicenter study involving ten Spanish hospitals. Consecutive outpatients aged ≥ 18 years with previous IC were invited to participate. The latest version of the CCE device, PillCam™ COLON 2 (CCE-2), was administered to all patients according to the protocol. RESULTS: The study population comprised 96 patients. The most frequent cause of IC was the inability to move past a loop using standard maneuvers (75/96 patients, 78%). Complete visualization of the colon was obtained with CCE-2 in 69 patients (71.9%). Of the 27 patients in whom the CCE-2 did not reach the hemorrhoidal plexus, it passed the colonic segment explored with the previous colonoscopy in 20 cases; therefore, it could be inferred that a combined approach (CCE-2 plus colonoscopy) enabled complete visualization of the colonic mucosa in 92.7% of patients. CCE-2 revealed new lesions in 58 patients (60.4%). Polyps were the most frequent finding (41 patients; 42.7% of the total number of patients). In 43 of the 58 patients (44.8% of the total number of patients), the new lesions observed led to modification of therapy, which included a new colonoscopy for polyp resection or surgery in patients with colonic neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: CCE-2 is a suitable diagnostic procedure that can lead to more frequent diagnosis of significant colonic lesions after IC.

Diverticular Disease of the Colon: News From Imaging.

Different scenarios embrace computed tomography imaging and diverticula, including asymptomatic (diverticulosis) and symptomatic patients (acute diverticulitis, follow-up of acute diverticulitis, chronic diverticulitis). If the role of computed tomography is validated and widely supported by evidence in case of acute diverticulitis, this is not the case of patients in their follow-up for acute diverticulitis or with symptoms related to diverticula, but without acute inflammation. In these settings, computed tomography colonography is gaining consensus as the preferred radiologic test.

Do Appendicitis and Diverticulitis Share a Common Pathological Link?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between appendicitis and diverticulitis. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING: This study was conducted in a subspecialty practice at a tertiary care facility. PATIENTS: We examined the rate of appendectomy among 4 cohorts of patients: 1) patients with incidentally identified diverticulosis on screening colonoscopy, 2) inpatients with medically treated diverticulitis, 3) patients who underwent left-sided colectomy for diverticulitis, and 4) patients who underwent colectomy for left-sided colorectal cancer. INTERVENTIONS: There were no interventions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was the appendectomy rate. RESULTS: We studied a total of 928 patients in this study. There were no differences in the patient characteristics of smoking status, nonsteroidal use, or history of irritable bowel syndrome across the 4 study groups. Patients with surgically treated diverticulitis had significantly more episodes of diverticulitis (2.8 ± 1.9) than the medically treated group (1.4 ± 0.8) (p < 0.0001). The rate of appendectomy was 8.2% for the diverticulosis control group, 13.5% in the cancer group, 23.5% in the medically treated diverticulitis group, and 24.5% in the surgically treated diverticulitis group (p < 0.0001). After adjusting for demographics and other clinical risk factors, patients with diverticulitis had 2.8 times higher odds of previous appendectomy (p < 0.001) than the control groups. LIMITATIONS: The retrospective study design is associated with selection, documentation, and recall bias. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal significantly higher appendectomy rates in patients with a diagnosis of diverticulitis, medically or surgically managed, in comparison with patients with incidentally identified diverticulosis. Therefore, we propose that appendicitis and diverticulitis share similar risk factors and potentially a common pathological link.

Utilization of High-frequency Mini Probe Ultrasound in the Assessment of Colonic Wall Thickness in Patients With Diverticular Disease: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of diverticular disease (DD) is routinely undertaken by colonoscopy and computed tomography (CT) scan. Improvements in high-frequency ultrasound have enabled evaluation of the colon wall structure in detail. Our objective was to assess ultrasound in measuring colonic wall thickness in DD. METHODS: High-frequency 20-MHz ultrasound was undertaken to measure individual layer and total colonic wall thickness. Case patients had symptomatic DD. Control patients underwent colonoscopy for other reasons. Select patients also underwent abdominal CT scan. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients underwent colonoscopic ultrasound, 18 with sigmoid diverticula and 15 control patients.Total wall thickness was greater in patients with DD, 5.69 mm (1.68) versus 2.61 mm (1.29, P<0.0001). Patients with DD had significant thickening in each individual layer of the colonic wall measured (each P<0.0001).Greatest differences were in the muscularis propria, which was an average of 3.5 times thicker in patients with DD. In patients with DD, the segment of colonic wall measured was also thicker, with average mid-sigmoid thickness of 23.0 mm (SD 9.6 mm). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DD have increased sigmoid thickness when compared with controls, especially the muscularis propria. Unlike CT, ultrasound was also able to identify thickening in the mucosa and submucosa.