[Giant diverticulum of the sigmoid colon. A rare complication of colonic diverticulosis. Review of the literature apropos of a case]

Abstract

The authors report a case of giant diverticulum of the sigmoid colon, a very rare complication of diverticulosis of the colon, since only 38 cases have been reported in the literature. The diverticulum was seen at barium enema in a 66-year-old man complaining of digestive symptoms consisting of lower abdominal pain, tenesmus, diarrhea and fever. Segmental resection of the sigmoid colon including the site of implantation of the diverticulum with end-to-end anastomosis at the same operative stage led to definitive cure. On the basis of a study of the literature, the authors define the clinical, diagnostic and pathogenic characteristics of the condition.