Genital fistulas secondary to diverticular disease of the colon: a review

Abstract

Genital fistulas that complicate diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon may no longer be considered esoteric, or even rare phenomena. The vast majority of such lesions present with a foul, often fecal, sometimes purulent and occasionally blood-tinged, vaginal discharge for which patients customarily first seek relief from their gynecologists. Despite this fact, the topic is not mentioned in a single American textbook of gynecology. It is the purpose of this report to review the pertinent literature and to include the authors' experience with 13 additional cases in order to bring this topic to the attention of our gynecologic colleagues.