Psychological and colonic factors in painful diverticulosis.

BACKGROUND: The importance of psychological factors in symptom expression in diverticulosis is unknown. This follow-up study assessed the relative importance of colonic and psychological factors in symptom expression. METHODS: Patients with barium enema-proven diverticula were sent a bowel symptom questionnaire in 1999 and again in 2006 with additional psychological questionnaires included. RESULTS: Some 170 of 261 initial responders were eligible for follow-up and 124 (72.9 per cent) provided complete replies. Forty-two (33.9 per cent) of 124 respondents experienced recurrent abdominal pain a median of 3.5 (interquartile range (i.q.r.) 2.00-9.25) days per month, with a median duration of 1 (i.q.r. 0.7-2) h. Multivariable analysis identified a history of acute diverticulitis (odds ratio 3.98; P = 0.010) and a raised score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (odds ratio 2.53; P = 0.030) as the best predictors of recurrent pain. CONCLUSION: Psychological and colonic factors are important in symptom expression in diverticulosis.

Diverticular disease in patients with colon cancer: subgroup analysis of national surgical adjuvant breast and bowel project protocol C-06.

BACKGROUND: Similar epidemiologic characteristics suggest a common etiology for colon cancer (CC) and diverticular disease of the colon (DD). The relationship between the 2 diseases is still unclear, and the impact of DD in patients diagnosed with CC on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) is unknown. National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NASBP) protocol C-06 is a clinical trial comparing oral uracil/tegafur/leucovorin with 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin in patients with resected stage II/III carcinoma of the colon. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The NASBP enrolled 1,608 patients who had undergone potentially curative resection for stage II/III colon cancer from 256 medical sites between February 14, 1997, and March 31, 1999. RESULTS: Pathology reports from 1561 eligible patients retrospectively reviewed for the presence of DD revealed that 160 (10.2%) had this disease. The median ages of patients with CC and DD and without DD were 67 and 61 years, respectively (P < 0.05). The majority of patients were white, and Hispanic patients were better represented in the group with DD (P < 0.05). Colon cancer was located in the rectosigmoid in 46.88% of patients with DD and in 31.92% of patients without DD (P < 0.05). A baseline diagnosis of DD made no significant contribution to DFS or OS without adjustment for confoundin factors (P = 0.2 and P = 0.32, respectively) or adjusted for Dukes classification and age (P = 0.49 and P = 0.68, respectively). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DD in patients diagnosed and treated for CC was 10.2%. Patients with CC with and without DD differed from each other with respect to age, tumor location, and ethnicity. There was no negative impact of having DD on DFS and OS in patients treated for stage II/III CC.

Divertículo cólico gigante: manifestación infrecuente de una enfermedad muy frecuente / Giant colic diverticulum: rare manifestation of a very common disease

: A rare complication of diverticulosis of the colon is a giant colonic diverticulum. The condition was first described in French literature in 1946 and English literature in 1953. We communicate four personal cases including diagnosis by different modalities, evolution and surgical treatment, photography of pathological specimens and X ray study of the resected giant diverticula and colonic segment. A short review of the related literature is included.

Una complicación infrecuente de la diverticulosis del colon es el divertículo cólico gigante. Esta patología fue descrita inicialmente en la literatura francesa en 1946 y en la inglesa en 1953. Comunicamos cuatro casos, incluyendo los diagnósticos mediante diferentes exámenes de imágenes, evolución y tratamiento quirúrgico con fotografías intraoperatorias y de las piezas resecadas, como también radiografías de los especímenes. Se incluye una revisión concisa de la literatura.

Giant colonic diverticula. Review of diagnostic and therapeutic options.

BACKGROUND: A rare complication of diverticulosis of the colon is giant colonic diverticula (GCD). The condition was first described in English literature in 1953. METHODS: A Medline search was undertaken for English, French and German language articles on 'giant colonic diverticula'. RESULTS: A total of 135 patients were identified, presenting with a total of 155 GCD. With a complication rate of 28% and an operative mortality of 5%, GCD seems to have a high clinical significance. Radiological examination of choice seems to be plain abdominal X-ray and CT examination, barium enema carries the risk of perforation of the diverticulum, and should not be performed. CONCLUSIONS: There are different therapeutic options, in our opinion diverticulectomy alone is not the treatment of choice. Because of the possibility of recurrence and oncological reasons, colectomy seems to be the best treatment. The creation of a protecting colostomy depends on other operative findings.

Giant colonic diverticulum: a rare manifestation of a common disease.

Giant colonic diverticulum is a rare manifestation of a common disease primarily affecting patients over the age of 50 years. We reviewed all 81 cases of giant colonic diverticulum reported in the medical literature and present herein an additional case in a younger patient. Published reports were summarized with regard to current epidemiology, clinical aspects, diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, and complications. Giant colonic diverticulum can present as an acute, chronic, or incidental condition, or with complications. There are several suggested theories for the pathogenesis of giant colonic diverticulum, but none is universally satisfactory. A diagnosis can be made with plain films, barium enema, and CT scans. A combination of sigmoid resection and primary anastomosis was successful in 75% of the cases reported after the mid-1970s. More than 90% of giant colonic diverticula are found in the sigmoid colon. Sigmoid resection with primary anastomosis is the preferred treatment, although patients presenting with complications typically should be treated with Hartmann's procedure for free perforation or percutaneous drainage for a localized abscess. Because of the high risk of complications, we recommend segmental resection of the involved colon for those found incidentally.

Giant colonic diverticulum: presentation of one case and review of the literature.

Since the first case described in 1946, fewer than 100 cases of giant colonic diverticula have been reported in the literature. We discuss the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings in a case of giant colonic diverticulum and review the etiology and differential diagnosis.

Etiology of diverticular disease with classic illustrations.

Diverticulosis is a common colonic disorder and often is found incidentally on colonic endoscopy and contrast enema radiographs. Theories relating to the etiology of the pathologic processes are commonly quoted, although the actual anatomic features are rarely seen during colonoscopic examinations. Here we show classic illustrations that support the widely held theories regarding the etiologies of diverticular diseases.

Colonic diverticula. When complications require surgery and when they don't.

The value of a high-fiber diet in preventing and treating colonic diverticula is firmly established. Although the diagnosis of diverticulosis is usually made with colonoscopy or barium enema examination, computed tomography has become the test of choice during acute diverticulitis, when the diagnosis cannot be confidently made clinically. Recently developed surgical principles for diverticulitis include radiographically directed drainage with delayed operation for peridiverticular abscess, resection of the site of disease in patients with general peritonitis, and primary anastomosis in most cases requiring urgent intervention. Diverticulosis accompanied by abdominal pain or irregular bowel habits is by itself rarely an indication for surgery. Diverticular bleeding usually resolves spontaneously, but persistent bleeding can usually be successfully treated with segmental colectomy after localization of the bleeding site with colonoscopy or arteriography.

Case report: uncommon radiological and pathological features of giant colonic diverticula.

A case of multiple giant sigmoid diverticula is described in which a barium enema revealed two giant diverticula communicating with the sigmoid lumen. Both diverticula were located on the mesenteric border of the sigmoid colon, and histologic examination showed mucosal and serosal layers with no evidence of smooth muscle. The pathogenesis, pathology, radiological manifestations and differential diagnosis of this rare condition are discussed.

Progressive systemic sclerosis: report of a case with colonic involvement.

A case of progressive systemic sclerosis associated with colonic involvement is described. Barium-enema examination revealed segmental involvement. Colonoscopic examination of the whole range of the involved colon revealed wide-mouthed diverticula with interspersed rigid areas and numerous ulcerations. These colonoscopic findings appeared to be distinct from those associated with tuberculosis and Crohn's disease.

Colorectal complications of renal allograft transplantation.

The occurrence of perforated sigmoid diverticulitis in a renal transplant recipient stimulated a review of colorectal complications in renal allograft recipients. One hundred twenty-five renal transplantations were performed in 113 patients between January 1968 and December 1975. Six patients (5%) were identified as having colorectal complications and five of these patients died as a direct result. Chart analysis of these 113 transplant recipients identified 55 patients as having undergone colonic evaluation (contrast enema, postmortem examination), with seven of these 55 (13%) found to have diverticulosis and major colonic complications eventually developing in four of these seven. Since the mortality from the complications of colorectal diseases in immunosuppressed patients is so prohibitive, in patients with diverticulosis and a previous history suggestive of diverticulitis, consideration should be given to exclusion from transplantation or elective segmental colectomy prior to transplantation.

Variation in the incidence of diverticular disease within the city of Edinburgh.

An estimate of the incidence of diverticular disease of the colon was based on all the barium enema examinations in Edinburgh over four years (12 335 cases); using the census data for 1971, incidence rates for the city by age, sex, and electoral ward were calculated. The overall annual incidence rate was 1-55/1000, the rate rising sharply with increasing age. The incidence of diverticular disease varies from ward to ward (range 0-92-2-04/1000), adjacent wards have similar incidence rates and the six wards with the lowest rates are clustered together in the South East of the city. Ward incidence rates have a significant negative association with the percentage of owner occupiers living in that area.

An interim report on the production of colonic diverticula in the rabbit.

Six New Zealand white rabbits were given gas induction anaesthetics and maintained on glucochloralose (Merck) 60 mg/kg given intravenously. Intracolonic pressures were measured after a standard dose of prostigmine, 0.05 mg/kg, using fluid-filled, open-tipped, narrow-bore polythene tubes. Then the rabbits were put on a diet of white bread, butter, milk, and sugar supplemented by vitamins for four months. All six rabbits had put on weight but their general condition deteriorated; they had become constipated and the colon contracted. After stimulation with prostigmine 0.05 mg/kg scattered intertaenial wide-necked diverticula appeared which were thinner than the normal haustra and looked like a blackcurrant in colour, size, and shape. Repeat pressure measurements showed that the colonic motility index was increased up to 10 times from predietary levels with a highly significant mean increase from 5299 to 33151 (p < 0.0005).