[Diverticulitis of the right colon. Presentation of a clinical case]

The recent observation of one case of diverticulitis of the right colon led to an evaluation of clinical diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this comparatively rare condition, on the basis of reported data. Preoperative diagnosis is very difficult because it clinically resembles acute appendicitis in many ways, or because of the objective observation of a mass in the right iliac fossa. Instrumental examinations require preparation times that are often incompatible with the degree of surgical urgency. In the reported case, the inflammatory process was modest and treatment was straightforward, there being no diagnostic doubts. This confirms the fact that in so-called "usual" cases, the idea surgical approach must be as conservative as possible. In so-called "hidden" cases, on the other hand, the doubt as to the nature of the pathology often leads to extensive surgery, such as right hemicolectomy.