Diverticulitis differential diagnosis

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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],Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [3], Omodamola Aje B.Sc, M.D. [4], Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [5]

Overview

It is important to differentiate sigmoid diverticulitis from a lot of inflammatory and non-inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the urogenital system. Differential diagnosis of diverticulitis can be based on the diseases causing lower abdominal pain and fever, and the diseases causing peritonitis. Diverticulitis can be differentiated from other diseases that cause lower abdominal pain and fever like appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer colon, cystitis and endometritis.

Differential Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of diverticulitis can be based on the diseases causing lower abdominal pain and fever, and the diseases causing peritonitis.

Differentiating diverticulitis from diseases causing lower abdominal pain and fever

Diverticulitis can be differentiated from other diseases that cause lower abdominal pain and fever like appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer colon, cystitis and endometritis.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Diseases Symptoms Signs Diagnosis Comments
Abdominal pain Bowel habits Rebound tenderness Guarding Genitourinary signs Lab findings Imaging
GI diseases Diverticulitis LLQ Constipation

Or

Diarrhea

- + + CT scan shows evidence of inflammation
Appendicitis LLQ / RRQ Constipation + + - Ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation Nausea & vomiting,decreased appetite
Inflammatory bowel disease LLQ Bloody diarrhea - - -
  • Leukocytosis
Colonoscopy and tissue sampling are recommended for differentiating between crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Colon carcinoma LLQ Constipation - - - CT scan, x ray and MRI used to show metastasis
Strangulated hernia LLQ - - - -
  • No specific tests
  • CT scan used to detect the hernia and to show if it is single or multiple
Gentiourinary diseases Cystitis LLQ - + -
  • Suprapubic tenderness
  • X ray is done to probe the suspicion of emphysematous cystitis.
  • CT scan shows gas in the bladder in cases of emphysematous cystitis.
Prostatitis LLQ

Groin pain

- - -
  • Tender and enlarged
Pelvic inflammatory disease Bilateral - + -
  • Purulent vaginal discharge
Transvaginal utrasonography
Gynecological diseases Endometritis LLQ - + - +
  • No specific tests
  • Ultrasound is helpful to rule out other differential diagnosis such as pelvic abscess, thrombosis and masses
  • Vaginal discharge
  • Vaginal bleeding
Salpingitis LLQ/ RLQ +/- +/-
  • Leukocytosis
Pelvic ultrasound
  • Vaginal discharge

Differential diagnosis of diverticulitis with diseases causing peritonitis

Classification of acute abdomen based on etiology Presentation Symptoms Signs Diagnosis Comments
Fever Abdominal Pain Jaundice Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging
Common causes of Peritonitis Primary Peritonitis Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis + Diffuse - - - Hypoactive
  • Ascitic fluid PMN>250 cells/mm³
  • Culture: Positive for single organism
Ultrasound for evaluation of liver cirrhosis -
Secondary Peritonitis Perforated gastric and duodenal ulcer + Diffuse - + + N
    • Glucose < 50mg/dl
    • Total protein > 1g/dl
Air under diaphragm in upright CXR Upper GI endoscopy for diagnosis
Acute cholangitis + RUQ + - - N Abnormal LFT Ultrasound shows biliary dilatation Biliary drainage (ERCP) + IV antibiotics
Acute cholecystitis + RUQ + - - Hypoactive Ultrasound shows gallstone and evidence of inflammation Murphy’s sign
Acute pancreatitis + Epigastric +/- - - N Increased amylase / lipase Ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation Pain radiation to back
Acute appendicitis + RLQ - + + Hypoactive Leukocytosis Ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation Nausea & vomiting, decreased appetite
Acute diverticulitis + LLQ +/- + - Hypoactive Leukocytosis CT scan and ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation
Acute salpingitis + LLQ/ RLQ - +/- +/- N Leukocytosis Pelvic ultrasound Vaginal discharge
Hollow Viscous Obstruction Small intestine obstruction - Diffuse - + +/- Hyperactive then absent Leukocytosis Abdominal X ray Nausea & vomiting associated with constipation, abdominal distention
Volvulus - Diffuse - + - Hypoactive Leukocytosis CT scan and abdominal X ray Nausea & vomiting associated with constipation, abdominal distention
Biliary colic - RUQ + - - N Increased bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase Ultrasound Nausea & vomiting
Renal colic - Flank pain - - - N Hematuria CT scan and ultrasound Colicky abdominal pain associated with nausea & vomiting
Vascular Disorders Ischemic causes Mesenteric ischemia +/- Periumbilical - - - Hyperactive Leukocytosis and lactic acidosis CT scan Nausea & vomiting, normal physical examination
Acute ischemic colitis +/- Diffuse - + + Hyperactive then absent Leukocytosis CT scan Nausea & vomiting
Hemorrhagic causes Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm - Diffuse - - - N Normal CT scan Unstable hemodynamics
Intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal hemorrhage - Diffuse - - - N Anemia CT scan History of trauma
Gynaecological Causes Ovarian Cyst Complications Torsion of the cyst - RLQ / LLQ - +/- +/- N Increased ESR and CRP Ultrasound Sudden onset sever pain with nausea and vomiting
Cyst rupture - RLQ / LLQ - +/- +/- N Increased ESR and CRP Ultrasound Sudden onset sever pain with nausea and vomiting
Pregnancy Ruptured ectopic pregnancy - RLQ / LLQ - - - N Positive pregnancy test Ultrasound History of missed period and vaginal bleeding

The table below summarizes the findings that differentiate inflammatory causes of chronic diarrhea[7][8][9][10][10]

Cause History Laboratory findings Diagnosis Treatment
Diverticulitis Abdominal CT scan with oral and intravenous (IV) contrast bowel rest, IV fluid resuscitation, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy which covers anaerobic bacteria and gram-negative rods
Ulcerative colitis Endoscopy Induction of remission with mesalamine and corticosteroids followed by the administration of sulfasalazine and 6-Mercaptopurine depending on the severity of the disease.
Entamoeba histolytica cysts shed with the stool detects ameba DNA in feces Amebic dysentery

Luminal amebicides for E. histolytica in the colon:

For amebic liver abscess:

References

  1. Laurell H, Hansson LE, Gunnarsson U (2007). "Acute diverticulitis--clinical presentation and differential diagnostics". Colorectal Dis. 9 (6): 496–501, discussion 501-2. doi:10.1111/j.1463-1318.2006.01162.x. PMID 17573742.
  2. Hardin, M. Acute Appendicitis: Review and Update. Am Fam Physician".1999, Nov 1;60(7):2027-2034
  3. Hanauer SB (1996). "Inflammatory bowel disease". N Engl J Med. 334 (13): 841–8. doi:10.1056/NEJM199603283341307. PMID 8596552.
  4. Cystitis-acute. MedlinePlus.https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000526.htm Accessed on February 9, 2016
  5. Prostatitis - bacterial. NLM Medline Plus 2016. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000519.htm. Accessed on March 2, 2016
  6. Ford GW, Decker CF (2016). "Pelvic inflammatory disease". Dis Mon. 62 (8): 301–5. doi:10.1016/j.disamonth.2016.03.015. PMID 27107781.
  7. Konvolinka CW (1994). "Acute diverticulitis under age forty". Am J Surg. 167 (6): 562–5. PMID 8209928.
  8. Silverberg MS, Satsangi J, Ahmad T, Arnott ID, Bernstein CN, Brant SR; et al. (2005). "Toward an integrated clinical, molecular and serological classification of inflammatory bowel disease: report of a Working Party of the 2005 Montreal World Congress of Gastroenterology". Can J Gastroenterol. 19 Suppl A: 5A–36A. PMID 16151544.
  9. Satsangi J, Silverberg MS, Vermeire S, Colombel JF (2006). "The Montreal classification of inflammatory bowel disease: controversies, consensus, and implications". Gut. 55 (6): 749–53. doi:10.1136/gut.2005.082909. PMC 1856208. PMID 16698746.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Haque R, Huston CD, Hughes M, Houpt E, Petri WA (2003). "Amebiasis". N Engl J Med. 348 (16): 1565–73. doi:10.1056/NEJMra022710. PMID 12700377.

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