Clinical characteristics of right versus left colonic diverticulitis

Lee, Hyun Chaol; Jeon, Seong Woo; Kim, Sang Yeop; Kim, Dae Jin; Lee, Wan Suk; Lee, Ju Young; Jung, Min Kyu; Cho, Chang Min; Tak, Won Young; Kweon, Young Oh; Kim, Sung Kook; Choi, Young Hwan

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Left colonic diverticulitis is relatively common in western nations. Although the incidence of colonic diverticulitis is increasing in Korea, very little is known regarding its clinical characteristics in korean patients.
METHODS
We compared the clinical characteristics of right versus left colonic diverticulitis via the retrospective review of 37 cases treated at the Kyungpook National University Hospital, Korea, from July 1998 to December 2006. Diagnosis was confirmed via computed tomography (CT), barium study, colonoscopy, and/or surgery.
RESULTS
Eighteen men and 19 women (median age, 45.0 years; range, 21~75 years) were included. The ratio of right to left colonic diverticulitis was 30:7. The male to female ratio for right colonic diverticulitis was 16:14 and the median age was 38.5 years (range, 21~72 years). The male to female ratio for left colonic diverticulitis was 2:5 and the mean age was 57.0 years (range, 45~75 years). Left colonic diverticulitis was more frequently associated with intestinal perforation (p=0.001) and old age (p=0.005). Surgical intervention was more common in left versus right colonic diverticulitis (p=0.009).
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that although left colonic diverticulitis is relatively rare among koreans, it develops later in life and is more frequently complicated than right colonic diverticulitis.