[Association between diverticulosis and colonic Neoplasm in Koreans]

Although a few published studies have reported on the relationship between diverticulosis and neoplasia in the west, it is not yet examined in Korea. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between diverticulosis and colonic neoplasia.

We retrospectely analysed the medical records of 3,007 patients (M:F=1.3:1) who underwent colonoscopic examinations from year 2002 to year 2004. Patients who had a history of previous polypectomy, colon resection, or inflammatory bowel diseases were excluded. The size, extent (none, few, or many), and location of diverticuli and polyps were analyzed.

Of 2,377 patients, included 57% were male and the mean age was 50.8 year-old. Nine percent of the patient had diverticulosis, 29% had more than one neoplasm, and 6% had advanced neoplasia. Patients with diverticular diseases had higher risks of any neoplasia than those without diverticulum (p=0.03, 37.7% vs. 28.2%). There was no correlation between diverticular diseases and advanced neoplasia. Patients with proximal diverticular diseases had higher risk of any proximal neoplasia than other patients (p0.01 24.6% vs. 14.3%). Moreover, they had higher risk of proximal advanced neoplasia than others (p=0.01, 4.5% vs. 2%). In addition, comparison of multiple diverticular disease with few or no diverticuli revealed no difference in the risk of any neoplasia.

These data show that the patients with diverticular diseases have more neoplasms than controls without diverticula.