Clinical characteristics of right versus left colonic diverticulitis / 대한내과학회지

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 307. The male to female ratio for right colonic diverticulitis was 1614 and the median age was 38.5 years (range, 21~72 years). The male to female ratio for left colonic diverticulitis was 25 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.