A Case of Surgical Resection of the Sigmoid Colon with Stenosis Due to Diverticulitis

Abstract

An 80-year-old woman was admitted because of constipation and abdominal pain. Gastrographin enema showed multiple diverticula of the wall from the sigmoid colon to the rectosigmoid junction of the rectum and stenosis of the sigmoid. Colonoscopy showed mucosal edema, but no atypical glands were seen in the mucosa by biopsy. We considered that conservative treatment was insufficient and performed a colectomy. The resected specimen revealed multiple diverticula and wall thickening at a maximum of 1cm. Pathological examination revealed infiltration of inflammatory cells around the diverticula, thickening of the proper muscular layer, and fibrosis of the submucosal and subserosal layer. We concluded that the stenosis had been caused by repeated diverticulitis in addition to the thickening of the muscular layer. No malignancy was seen. Bowel stenosis due to diverticulitis requiring surgery is rare. We report this case with a discussion of the diverticulitis literature.