Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is common and increasing in frequency. Most cases are uncomplicated and are typically treated with antibiotics. Sigmoid resection is performed in cases of severe disease and is considered on an individual basis in patients with recurrences. Colonic diverticulitis is an inflammatory process that most commonly affects the sigmoid colon. A colonic diverticulum is a pouchlike protrusion in which mucosa and submucosa herniate through the muscle layer at points of weakness where bloodvessels traverse the colon wall (shown). The term diverticulosis describes asymptomatic diverticula, whereas diverticulitis indicates diverticula associated with inflammation and can be either complicated (i.e., associated with abscess, fistula, stricture, or perforation and peritonitis) or uncomplicated. All manifestations are covered by the term diverticular disease. Source: nejm.org
