Laparoscopic-assisted Right Hemicolectomy for a Giant Colonic True Diverticulum—A Case Report—

Abstract

Giant colonic diverticula are rare, and only a small percentage of these lesions can be categorized as true diverticula. A 62-year old man visited a local physician with right-sided abdominal pain and was diagnosed with an abdominal mass. He was referred to our hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Abdominal computed tomography showed a mass (5 cm in diameter), which was suspected to be continuous with the ascending colon. Colonoscopy showed a large number of small diverticula in addition to the giant colonic diverticulum. Based on the aforementioned findings, the patient was diagnosed with a giant ascending colon diverticulum, and laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy was performed. Intraoperatively, significant adhesions were identified around the giant diverticulum, which were attributed to inflammation. Histopathological evaluation of the resected specimen showed a muscular layer in the diverticular wall ; therefore, the patient was diagnosed with a true diverticulum, which was accompanied by bacterial infection but no evidence of malignancy.