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Imaging findings in right-sided diverticulitis in a child

Conor O Bogue1, Erika H Mann

  • 1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, The University of Toronto, 555 University Ave., Toronto, M5G 1X8, Canada. conor.bogue@sickkids.ca

Pediatric Radiology
|July 10, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Acute right-sided diverticulitis can occur in adolescents, presenting with right lower quadrant pain. Imaging is crucial for diagnosis when the appendix appears normal, especially in patients of Asian or Pacific descent.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Pediatric Imaging
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Right-sided diverticulitis is uncommon, particularly in pediatric populations.
  • Appendicitis is the most common cause of right lower quadrant pain in children.
  • Atypical presentations necessitate a broad differential diagnosis.

Observation:

  • A 13-year-old boy presented with acute right lower quadrant pain.
  • Initial sonography revealed a normal-appearing appendix.
  • Subsequent imaging identified findings consistent with acute right-sided diverticulitis.

Findings:

  • Imaging confirmed acute right-sided diverticulitis.
  • The patient was successfully treated non-operatively with intravenous antibiotics.
  • This diagnosis was made despite a sonographically normal appendix.

Implications:

  • Acute right-sided diverticulitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of right lower quadrant pain in children, especially when the appendix is sonographically normal.
  • This is particularly relevant for pediatric patients of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.
  • Conservative management with antibiotics can be effective for this condition.

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