Diverticular disease: stage-related diagnostic imaging

Abstract

Diverticular disease frequently leads to emergency admissions. Clinical parameters are not sufficiently accurate to determine the extent of acute colonic diverticulitis, thus aquick, reproducible and valid diagnostic imaging procedure is required. In the following, the imaging methods commonly used for the diagnostic work-up and staging of diverticulitis are presented and classified in the context of the data situation and clinical reality. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is the current diagnostic gold standard for the imaging evaluation of diverticulitis and the basis for guideline-conform treatment decisions according to the classification of diverticular disease (CDD). The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of diverticulitis will have to be investigated but amore profound integration of this method can already be predicted. Point-of-care ultrasound for initial diagnosis and follow-up assessment will become more important, analogous to FAST in trauma patients.