ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN DIVERTICULITIS OF THE CECUM AND ASCENDING COLON

Ultrasonography has been performed in diagnosing diverticulitis of the cecum and ascending colon as a convenient and useful imaging technique. Sixteen patients who were ultimately demonstrated having diverticulitis were subjected to this study and the sonographic findings of the disease were evaluated. The findings are summarized as follows. (1) An oval or irregularly shaped mass protruding from the colonic wall was seen. (2) The mass had a hypoechoic margin. (3) It had a central hyperechoic focus. Spotty high echoes were frequently observed. But hyperechoic speckle or linear high echo or strong echoes with acoustic shadow were also visualized. (4) Hyperechoic area existed surrounding the diverticulum. (5) Thickening of the colonic wall adjacent to the diverticulum was detected. (6) Sometimes a small amount of ascites was found. The direct findings (1), (2) and (3) were seen in all patients (100%). Finding (4) was present in 14 of the 16 patients (87.5%), (5) in 10 patients (62.5%), and (6) in 4 patients (25%). Our study suggests that sonography is very useful for the diagnosis of diverticulitis.