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Acute scrotum caused by sigmoid diverticulitis.
Esther J Hwang1, Joshua R Karas, Marlene Zawin
1Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, State University of New York , Stony Brook, New York, USA.
Surgical Infections
|December 7, 2011
Summary
Diverticular abscesses can present unusually, tracking into the inguinal canal and causing acute scrotum. Physicians should consider advanced imaging like CT scans for atypical diverticulitis presentations.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Diverticulitis is a common condition with potential complications including intra-abdominal or pelvic abscess formation.
- Abscesses are a recognized, albeit infrequent, complication of diverticulitis.
Observation:
- This case report details an atypical presentation of a diverticular abscess.
- The abscess tracked inferiorly along the inguinal canal.
- This unusual pathway led to symptoms of acute scrotum, potentially related to an incarcerated hernia.
Findings:
- A diverticular abscess can manifest with extrabowel or extragastrointestinal tract symptoms.
- Inguinal abscesses secondary to diverticulitis are rare but possible.
- Acute scrotum can be a rare presenting symptom of a diverticular abscess.
Implications:
- Unusual presentations of diverticulitis necessitate thorough diagnostic evaluation.
- Computed tomography (CT) scanning is crucial for diagnosing suspected abscesses, especially in atypical cases.
- Early and accurate diagnosis of diverticular abscesses, regardless of location, is vital for appropriate management and patient outcomes.
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