GIANT COLONIC DIVERTICULUM - REPORT OF 4 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

PURPOSE: Giant colonic diverticulum are rare, with 103 reported cases in 95 patients. The experience of any one surgeon is limited. We aimed to retrospectively review our experience and to review the literature on origin, pathology, and management of this rare and unusual problem . METHOD: Cases were identified by review of pathologic database and b y computerized audit from three hospitals. RESULTS: Five giant colonic diverticulum were identified in four patients, and the pathology and management were reviewed. CONCLUSION: A definition and classification system of giant colonic diverticulum is suggested. Giant colonic diver ticulum should be the universal term to cover all colonic diverticulum larger than 4 cm, and we suggest that there are two types based on hi stology. Literature review reveals 103 reported cases in 95 patients. Type I (87 percent) is a pseudodiverticulum, perhaps related to conven tional diverticular disease, whereas Type II (13 percent) is a true di verticulum, which is probably a type of communicating cystic congenita l duplication. These lesions tend to occur in the sigmoid colon (93 pe rcent) and present with complications similar to conventional divertic ular disease. In the presence of conventional diverticular disease, co nsideration should be given to anterior resection, and in the absence, diverticulectomy should be considered.