Role of ultrasonographic imaging in the surgical management of acute diverticulitis of the colon

Diverticulosis of the colon is a very frequent pathology in the western word and is characterised by a high percentage of dangerous complications (10-25%). The most accurate method of staging diverticular disease is by CT scan. The aim of our study was to evaluate the sensitivity of ultrasonography in the evaluation and management of diverticular disease of the colon. We studied 51 patients: the parameters used to assess complicated diverticulosis of the colon were: 1) wall thickness; 2) presence of fluid collections and pericolic abscesses; 3) free liquid collections in the peritoneal cavity; 4) subdiaphragmatic free air; 5) presence of fistula tracts. Ultrasonography showed 66% sensitivity in the assessment of wall thickness and in detecting the presence of diverticula. The sensitivity rate was 100% in the detection of abscess complications, pericolic collections, free air and fistula tracts. False-negatives (5 patients) were all recorded in Hinchey stage I. The overall sensitivity amounted to 91%. In our experience the method is a first level examination in the approach to patients suffering from diverticular disease of the colon and presents high sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy. The method, in expert hands, is suggested as a first step in the clinical-diagnostic approach to patients suffering from acute abdomen due to diverticulitis of the colon.