GASTRIC DIVERTICULUM - AN UNCOMMON CAUSE OF ABDOMINAL-PAIN IN A 12-YEAR-OLD

A 12-year-old girl presented with long-lasting intractable abdominal p ain associated with a gastric diverticulum. The clinicopathologic feat ures of this rare entity are discussed with emphasis on pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. The authors emphasize that congenital divert iculum of the stomach should be considered in the differential diagnos is of abdominal pain in childhood. Surgical treatment consisting of si mple excision of the diverticulum is warranted in cases presenting wit h long-lasting symptoms after failure of medical treatment. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.