Abstract

MARQUES, Isabel; PEREIRA, Ana; RIBAS, Sónia  and  REIS, Mário. Giant Colonic Diverticulum a Rare Complication of a Common Disease. Acta Radiol Port [online]. 2022, vol.34, n.3, pp.27-29.  Epub Dec 30, 2022. ISSN 2183-1351.  https://doi.org/10.25748/arp.27307.

An 80-year-old patient presented to the emergency room with a bowel obstruction and a tender epigastric mass. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) described a closed loop small bowel obstruction. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a giant sigmoid diverticulum, of 11cm in diameter, which was resected. The specimen was a true McNutt's type III diverticulum. The patient was discharged after a normal postoperative period and did not suffer any recurrence during a follow-up of more than 6 months. This is a rare complication of a common disease with non-specific presentation and not always accurately described by CT scan. Apart from intestinal volvulus, differential diagnoses include duplication cyst, a giant Meckel’s or duodenal diverticulum, pancreatic pseudocyst and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. Surgical resection is the recommended treatment to avoid perforation and peritonitis. Diverticulectomy is a safe option for a patient with acute presentation in the emergency room.

Keywords : Giant colonic diverticulum; Diverticular disease; Bowel obstruction; Computed tomography..

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