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Diverticulitis

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CT of the Acute Abdomen

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

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Abstract

Colonic diverticulosis, defined as a symptomless acquired disease resulting from the development of multiple diverticula on the colonic wall, is the most common colonic disease in Western industrial countries. The spectrum of acute diverticulitis, resulting from acute inflammation and infection of these diverticula, ranges from localized microperforation with a focal diverticulitis to life-threatening free perforation with generalized purulent or fecal peritonitis. After the initial clinical attack, recurrent episodes are frequently observed. The most common complication of diverticulitis is diverticular abscesses, much more severe when they are not confined to the mesocolon. The severity of a clinical episode of acute colonic diverticulitis is related to the development of pericolic lesions (abscess, fistula, peritonitis). In these conditions, computed tomography is now the diagnostic radiological examination of choice in patients with suspected acute diverticulitis, and should be used without delay in every patient in every clinical episode of acute diverticulitis (1) to confirm the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis, (2) to identify or exclude other causes of abdominal pain, (3) to evaluate the severity and the extent of the acute disease, and (4) to assist the decision management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Imaging, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, CHRU of Montpellier, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Jean-Michel Bruel

  2. Department of Medical Imaging, Hôpital Lapeyronie, CHRU of Montpellier, 191 Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Patrice Taourel

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  1. Jean-Michel Bruel
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Correspondence to Jean-Michel Bruel .

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  1. Imagerie Médicale, Hôpital Lapeyronie, avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud 371, Montpellier CX 5, 34295, France

    Patrice Taourel

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Bruel, JM., Taourel, P. (2010). Diverticulitis. In: Taourel, P. (eds) CT of the Acute Abdomen. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2010_83

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2010_83

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