Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 4, Issue 12 659-666, Copyright © 1985 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Sonography of colonic diverticulitis
S. G. Parulekar
Sonographic findings in 16 patients with diverticulitis of the colon are
described. The wall of the inflamed segment of the colon appeared
hypoechoic and thickened. Maximum thickness of the wall ranged from 5 to 17
mm. Length of the most severely inflamed segment of the colon ranged from 6
to 9 cm. In addition, adjacent contiguous segments of the colon, less
involved with inflammation, ranging in length from 7 to 15 cm, were
demonstrated on sonographic examination of five patients. Long segments of
the inflamed colon could be demonstrated by oblique scanning. The
appearance of the mucosal reflections, intramural abscesses, and inflamed
diverticula is described. Out of 16 patients with diverticulitis, seven
patients had abscesses and extravasation of barium was seen in only two of
these seven patients. Ultrasonography therefore is recommended prior to
barium or water-soluble contrast enema examination in patients with
suspected diverticulitis. In patients with appropriate clinical findings,
sonographic diagnosis of diverticulitis can be made by demonstrating
hypoechoic thickening of the wall of the colon, even in the absence of
intramural or intraperitoneal abscess.
