Diverticulitis CT

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]

Overview

Abdominal CT scan is helpful in the diagnosis of diverticulitis. CT scan is not only important in the diagnosis of diverticulitis but is also necessary to exclude the possibility of cancer in patients. CT scanning may also identify patients with complicated diverticulitis, such as those with an associated abscess. It also allows radiologically guided drainage of associated abscesses under direct visualization and avoidance of surgery.

CT

CT scan one of the best diagnostic approaches and has had a high specificity for diverticulitis up until now. CT is important in diagnosing diverticulitis for further management and treatment. The following findings can be observed in colon CT imaging:[1][2][3][4][5][6]

  • Colonic and paracolic inflammation in the presence of underlying diverticula (diverticula are identified on CT scans as outpouchings of the colonic wall).
  • Symmetric thickening of the colon of approximately 4-5 mm is common.
  • Enhancement of the colonic wall is commonly noted. This usually has inner and outer high-attenuation layers, with a thick middle layer of low attenuation.
  • Free diverticular perforation results in the extravasation of air and fluid into the pelvis and peritoneal cavity.
  • Air in the bladder in the presence of a nearby segment of diverticulitis is suggestive of a colovesical fistula.
  • In cases of complicated diverticulitis, abscess appears like localized fluid collection surrounded by the inflamed tissue.
  • Dilated loops may be observed with air fluid levels.
Diverticulitis in the lower abdominal quadrant. Source: James Heilman, MD - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15376348

References

  1. Hulnick DH, Megibow AJ, Balthazar EJ, Naidich DP, Bosniak MA (1984). "Computed tomography in the evaluation of diverticulitis". Radiology. 152 (2): 491–5. doi:10.1148/radiology.152.2.6739821. PMID 6739821.
  2. Schreyer AG, Layer G, German Society of Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) as well as the German Society of General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV) in collaboration with the German Radiology Society (DRG) (2015). "S2k Guidlines for Diverticular Disease and Diverticulitis: Diagnosis, Classification, and Therapy for the Radiologist". Rofo. 187 (8): 676–84. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1399526. PMID 26019048.
  3. Neff CC, vanSonnenberg E (1989). "CT of diverticulitis. Diagnosis and treatment". Radiol Clin North Am. 27 (4): 743–52. PMID 2657852.
  4. Ambrosetti P (2016). "Acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis: clinical expressions, therapeutic insights, and role of computed tomography". Clin Exp Gastroenterol. 9: 249–57. doi:10.2147/CEG.S110428. PMC 4993273. PMID 27574459.
  5. Andeweg CS, Wegdam JA, Groenewoud J, van der Wilt GJ, van Goor H, Bleichrodt RP (2014). "Toward an evidence-based step-up approach in diagnosing diverticulitis". Scand J Gastroenterol. 49 (7): 775–84. doi:10.3109/00365521.2014.908475. PMID 24874087.
  6. Goh V, Halligan S, Taylor SA, Burling D, Bassett P, Bartram CI (2007). "Differentiation between diverticulitis and colorectal cancer: quantitative CT perfusion measurements versus morphologic criteria--initial experience". Radiology. 242 (2): 456–62. doi:10.1148/radiol.2422051670. PMID 17255417.

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