The diagnosis and management of diverticular disease

Diverticular disease is very common among elderly members of "Western, civilized" communities. The aetiopathogenesis is unknown, but may be related to diet and raised intracolonic pressure. Patients with diverticulosis are usually asymptomatic, but those with diverticulitis (which implies inflammation) often present with pain, pyrexia and changes in bowel habit. Careful differential diagnosis is necessary to permit appropriate treatment (medical or surgical), and to detect and treat potentially dangerous complications (abscess, peritonitis, haemorrhage, stenosis, fistula).