A Phantom of the Large Bowel.

Shivantha Amarnath,Deeb Liliane,Fady G Haddad

doi:10.7759/cureus.5738

Shivantha Amarnath, Deeb Liliane + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.5738

Copy DOI

Journal: Cureus	Publication Date: Sep 24, 2019
Citations: 2	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Staten Island University Hospital, Northwell Health

Abstract

Giant colonic diverticulum (GCD) is a diverticulum that is larger than 4 cm in diameter most commonly arising from the sigmoid colon. Patients with GCD are typically asymptomatic, and clinical manifestations vary from a soft palpable abdominal mass to diarrhea, which is well described in the literature. However, few studies have demonstrated a presentation of GCD with acute diverticulitis. Herein, we report a case of a middle-aged patient presenting with sepsis due to acute diverticulitis as an initial presentation of a GCD.

Highlights

Giant colonic diverticulum (GCD), commonly referred to as giant gas cyst or giant colon cyst, is a rare entity that was first described in 1946 [1]
Patients with GCD are typically asymptomatic, and clinical manifestations vary from a soft palpable abdominal mass to diarrhea, which is well described in the literature
It is defined as a colonic diverticulum that is larger than 4 cm in size, which could be an isolated finding commonly in the sigmoid colon or associated with concomitant diverticular disease in 85% of the cases

Summary

Introduction

Giant colonic diverticulum (GCD), commonly referred to as giant gas cyst or giant colon cyst, is a rare entity that was first described in 1946 [1] It is defined as a colonic diverticulum that is larger than 4 cm in size, which could be an isolated finding commonly in the sigmoid colon or associated with concomitant diverticular disease in 85% of the cases. Our patient is one of the very few cases reported in the literature to present as such He is a middle-aged man who complained of non-specific abdominal pain and was diagnosed with acute diverticulitis of a GCD. The patient was admitted for sepsis due to acute diverticulitis of the GCD and was started on systemic antibiotics He improved clinically, tolerated oral diet, and was successfully discharged three days after presentation.

Discussion

Conclusions

Findings

Disclosures