Diverticulitis in women: an unappreciated clinical presentation

A final diagnosis of diverticulosis or diverticulitis was made in 1,031 women over a 10 year period. The 69 patients who underwent abdominal operation for what proved to be diverticulitis are discussed in detail. Thirty-eight per cent of these women were believed to have gynecologic disease because of the presence of a pelvic mass. Diverticulitis is an important differential diagnosis of a pelvic mass with or without clinical and laboratory indications of infection and with or without history of diverticulosis or diverticulitis. The increasing awareness of ovarian carcinoma and its ominous prognosis make this differential diagnosis especially important. Diverticular disease should always be considered among such patients and preparations made to allow optimal treatment at that operation, whatever the ultimate cause of the mass.