Adenocarcinoma arising in a diverticular abscess of the colon: report of a case.

A case of a patient with adenocarcinoma in an abscess cavity that resulted from perforated diverticulitis of the descending colon is described. Serial barium-enema studies over a nine-year period show the diverticulosis, perforation, abscess cavity, and finally the adenocarcinoma in the abscess cavity. Although it is infrequent, the possibility of carcinoma must be considered in cases of patients who have unhealed pericolonic abscess cavities.