Giant colonic diverticulum

Abstract

A definition and classification system of giant colonic diverticulum is suggested. Giant colonic diverticulum should be the universal term to cover all colonic diverticulum larger than 4 cm, and we suggest that there are two types based on histology. Literature review reveals 103 reported cases in 95 patients. Type I (87 percent) is a pseudodiverticulum, perhaps related to conventional diverticular disease, whereas Type II (13 percent) is a true diverticulum, which is probably a type of communicating cystic congenital duplication. These lesions tend to occur in the sigmoid colon (93 percent) and present with complications similar to conventional diverticular disease. In the presence of conventional diverticular disease, consideration should be given to anterior resection, and in the absence, diverticulectomy should be considered.