Colonic diverticulitis diagnosed by computed tomography in the ED.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the application of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of colonic diverticulitis in the emergency department (ED). Clinical information and CT images of 38 proved cases of colonic diverticulitis were reviewed retrospectively. The most common CT findings were pericolic fat infiltration (100%), thickened fascia (78.9%), muscular hypertrophy (26.3%), and arrowhead sign (23.7%). The CT findings were correlated with clinical prognosis and 3 parameters were found to be indicators for poor prognosis: older age, abscess formation, and presence of free air. The patients with diverticulitis on right side colon were found to be younger in age and the lesions were shorter in involved length with higher incidence of muscular hypertrophy and less incidence of perforation, as compared with the left side group. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA).