Diverticulosis
| Diverticulosis | |
|---|---|
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| Drawing showing a sigmoid colon with many diverticula | |
| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | General surgery |
| ICD-10 | K57 |
| ICD-9-CM | 562.00 |
| OMIM | 223320 |
| DiseasesDB | 3871 |
| eMedicine | med/3102 |
| MeSH | D004240 |
Diverticulosis is the condition of having diverticula in the colon that are not inflamed. These are outpockets of the colonic mucosa and submucosa through weaknesses of muscle layers in the colon wall. They typically cause no symptoms.Diverticular disease occurs when diverticula become inflamed, known as diverticulitis, or bleed.
They typically occur in the sigmoid colon, which is a common place for increased pressure. The left side is more commonly affected in the United States while the right side is more commonly affected in Asia. Diagnosis is often during routine colonoscopy or as an incidental finding during CT scan.
It is common in Western countries with about half of those over the age of 60 in Canada and the United States affected. Diverticula are uncommon before the age of 40, and increase in incidence beyond that age. Rates are lower in Africa which has been attributed to a shorter life expectancy and poor healthcare access. The lower rate has also been attributed to high fiber.
Some people with diverticulosis complain of symptoms such as cramping, bloating, flatulence, and irregular defecation. However, it is unclear if these symptoms are attributable to the underlying diverticulosis or to coexistent irritable bowel syndrome.
Diverticular disease was found associated with a higher risk of left sided colon cancer.
Diverticular disease can present with painless rectal bleeding as bright red blood per rectum. Diverticular bleeding is the most common cause of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. However, it is estimated that 80% of these cases are self-limiting and require no specific therapy.
Infection of a diverticulum can result in diverticulitis. This occurs in 10–25% of people with diverticulosis. Tears in the colon leading to bleeding or perforations may occur; intestinal obstruction may occur (constipation or diarrhea does not rule this possibility out); and peritonitis, abscess formation, retroperitoneal fibrosis, sepsis, and fistula formation are also possible occurrences. Rarely, an enterolith may form. Infection of a diverticulum often occurs as a result of stool collecting in a diverticulum.
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Wikipedia