Caecal diverticulitis.

Ten cases of caecal diverticulitis are reviewed. Caecal diverticulitis is frequently diagnosed as appendicitis pre-operatively and is difficult to distinguish from carcinoma or inflammatory bowel disease intra-operatively. The average age of presentation is younger than that of left-sided colonic diverticulitis. Most of the diverticula are narrow-neck false diverticula. When diagnosed intra-operatively hemicolectomy can often be avoided.