[Colonic cancer and diverticulitis of the large intestine]

The authors report 17 cases of colonic carcinoma associated with diverticulitis. They differentiate between carcinomas arising above and below the diverticular area and emphasise the coexistence of both diseases on the same segment of colon. The diagnosis may be made in two different circumstances depending on whether the association presents as diverticulosis or as diverticulitis with complications. Careful examination of the barium enema whenever possible is the basic factor in diagnosis. The operation is rendered more difficult by inflammatory phenomena or suppuration of the sigmoiditis and the prognosis is aggravated by cancer.