Ultrasonography of acute colonic diverticulitis. Effect on surgical treatment

The clinical diagnosis of acute colonic diverticulitis (ACD) is at times difficult and an early detection by a non-invasive method as ultrasonography (US) is required. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic sensibility of US performed on admission in patients with ACD, its value in monitoring assessment of severity and its influence on surgical decision. The Authors have carried out a retrospective study on 22 patients (8 men and 14 women, median age 58 years) admitted from January 1997 to June 1999 for ACD. In 21 cases the diagnosis was made on admission by US. The diagnostic sensibility was 95.5% (false-negative: 1 case). The true diagnosis in 2 false-positive patients was: ischemic colitis (1 case), aspecific thickening of colonic wall in patient with left renal carcinoma (1 case). The sensibility of clinical evaluation on admission was 68% (false-negative: 7 cases). The clinical diagnosis was unequivocal in only 36.4% of cases. In 14 patients, successfully treated conservatively, the US gave monitoring the reduction of hypoechogenic thickening of the colonic wall. Seven patients who underwent urgent surgery: in 3 cases for generalized peritonitis, but in 4 patients (18.2%) the immediate management was influenced by US detection of a clinical misdiagnosed abscess. The Authors conclude that, in the hands of an expert investigator, the extensive use of US in acute abdominal pain facilitate an accurate diagnosis of ACD and its appropriate management