Department of Radiology, Pathology, Sunlin Presbyterian Hospital
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE : To evaluate the sonographic findings and the diagnostic value of colonic diverticulitis. MATERIAL &METHODS : We evaluated the sonograms of 26 patients with colonic diverticulitis retrospectively. The finaldiagnosis was based on the pathologic interpretation of a surgical specimen (5 cases), clinical course (21 cases),on barium enema (12 cases) and colonoscopy (1 case). RESULTS : Twenty-five patients had acute diverticulitis inthe cecum and 1 patient in the descending colon. On sonography, an oval or short tubular focus which protrudedfrom the colonic wall was seen in 23 patients (88%) and the longest diameter were from 0.5 cm to 3 cm (mean 1.4cm). The lesions were echogenic in 8 cases and hypoechoic in 17 cases. Segmental thickening of the colonic wallwas seen in 13 patients (50%), of these, protruding focus was seen in 92%. Pericolic abscess located inposterolateral and medial portion to the colon was seen in 11 patients (42%). Infilitration in pericolic fat(50%), enlargement of pericolic lymph nodes (27%) and small pericolic fluid (8%) were also seen. CONCLUSION : Ourresults show that ultrasonography is useful technique in the diagnosis of colonic diverticulitis and in thedifferentiation from acute appendicitis.