CONTRIBUTION OF COLONOSCOPY AFTER AN EPISODE OF COMPLICATED DIVERTICULOSIS

Aims:

A colonoscopy is often indicated after an episode of complicated diverticlosis to the search for a malignant tumor of the colon. The purpose of our study is to clarify the value of this examination in patients with complicated diverticular disease of the colon.

Methods:

This is a retrospective study including all patients explored by colonoscopy after an episode of complicated diverticulosis between January 2016 and September 2018.

Results:

Among 168 patients with colonic diverticular disease, 38 patients had a complicated diverticulosis (22.6%). These patients were divided into 20 men and 18 women with a mean age of mean age of 58.42 years. Diverticulosis was complicated by sigmoiditis in 31 cases, deep abscess in 3 cases, gastrointestinal bleeding in 3 cases and perforation in 1 case. A favorable evolution was obtained after the introduction of antibiotic therapy in most cases (34 patients). Four patients underwent surgical treatment. Colonoscopy performed within 53.8 days (30 – 90 days) showed diverticula in the sigmoid colon in 22 cases, the left colon in 8 cases, the transverse colon in 2 cases, the right colon in 2 cases and diffuse in 4 cases. Colonic polyps were present in 3 patients (7.8%) of 8.3 mm (5 – 12 mm) average size. Histological examination showed two tubular adenomas with low grade dysplasia and a tubular adenoma with high grade dysplasia. No cases of malignancy were observed.

Conclusions:

After an episode of complicated diverticulosis, colonoscopy was pathological in 7.8% of cases. No cases of malignancy were observed.