ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Left Lower Quadrant Pain-Suspected Diverticulitis

Publication date: May 2019Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology, Volume 16, Issue 5, SupplementAuthor(s): Expert Panel on Gastrointestinal Imaging:, Samuel J. Galgano, Michelle M. McNamara, Christine M. Peterson, David H. Kim, Kathryn J. Fowler, Marc A. Camacho, Brooks D. Cash, Kevin J. Chang, Barry W. Feig, Kenneth L. Gage, Evelyn M. Garcia, Avinash R. Kambadakone, Angela D. Levy, Peter S. Liu, Daniele Marin, Courtney Moreno, Jason A. Pietryga, Martin P. Smith, Stefanie Weinstein, Laura R. CarucciAbstractThis review summarizes the relevant literature regarding imaging of suspected diverticulitis as an etiology for left lower quadrant pain, and imaging of complications of acute diverticulitis. The most common cause of left lower quadrant pain in adults is acute sigmoid or descending colonic diverticulitis. Appropriate imaging triage for patients with suspected diverticulitis should address the differential diagnostic possibilities and what information is necessary to make a definitive management decision. Patients with diverticulitis may require surgery or interventional radiology procedures because of associated complications, including abscesses, fistulas, obstruction, or perforation. As a result, there has been a trend toward greater use of imaging to confirm the diagnosis of diverticulitis, evaluate the extent of disease, and detect complications before deciding on appropriate treatment. Additionally, in the era of bundled payments and minimizing health car...
Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: research