RIGHT COLONIC DIVERTICULITIS - US AND CT FINDINGS - NEW INSIGHTS ABOUT FREQUENCY AND NATURAL-HISTORY

PURPOSE: To evaluate how the use of ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) has changed insights on the frequency and natural hist ory of right colonic diverticulitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical f indings, US and CT images, and clinical and surgical records in 44 pat ients with a final diagnosis of right colonic diverticulitis seen over 11 years were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: Of the 44 patients, t hree underwent diverticulectomy, and 41 were successfully treated cons ervatively. Follow-up US demonstrated a consistent change in the patte rn of the findings of diverticulitis over time, with eventual spontane ous evacuation of the contents of the inflamed diverticulum into the c olonic lumen, live patients had recurrent symptoms; two of them underw ent elective surgery. The frequency,fright colonic diverticulitis was one in 34 appendectomies, which is nine times higher than that reporte d to date. CONCLUSION: Right colonic diverticulitis is more common tha n has been previously reported. US and CT findings are characteristic and show a consistent pattern of changes over time. the natural histor y is benign, and surgical intervention can be avoided in the vast majo rity of patients.