Acute Colonic Diverticulitis and Diverticulosis

Sonography can diagnose diverticulosis with an accuracy of approximately 60%. Most diverticula present as echogenic protrusions in some cases they are hypoechogenic. In most cases, diverticulitis sonographically presents as peridiverticular inflammation. Often microperforations are present. The peridiverticular inflammation of the fat is primarily hyperechogenic, and in advanced cases is hypoechogenic. Performed by an experienced investigator, sonography shows results comparable to those of CT in diagnosing acute diverticulitis, and an accuracy of more than 90% can be reached. If complications, such as abscess formation or fistulas, are suspected, CT should be performed. In distal sigmoid localisation, transrectal examination provides high-resolution images with a high specificity.