Aim: To investigate the ability of sonography to diagnose diverticulosis and to demonstrate the typical appearance of normal diverticula.
Patients and methods: Sixty consecutive patients underwent sonography for prospective evaluation of the presence of diverticulosis of the left hemicolon. Diverticula were assessed for number, diameter, echogenicity, and wall thickness. Sonographic results were compared with those of endoscopy.
Results: Sonography yielded positive results in 28/33 patients (85 %) with endoscopically proven diverticulosis. Sonography on average could demonstrate less diverticula per patient than endoscopy. Two sonographic results were false positive. Diverticula had a maximum average diameter of 8.7 mm and the diverticular wall measured 1 mm at most. In many cases the diverticular wall could not be demonstrated by sonography. All diverticula except for one were hyperechoic. In 39 % of patients with diverticulosis one or more diverticula showed clear acoustic shadowing indicative of a faecalith. The maximum diameter of the colonic wall was 3.3 mm on average. Sonography could demonstrate the descending colon in all cases. The sigmoid colon was not visible in 3 cases and could rarely be evaluated in its entire length.
Conclusion: Sonography can diagnose diverticulosis of the left hemicolon in most cases. Normal diverticula present as hyperechoic protuberances of the colonic wall with acoustic shadowing of varying intensity. The diverticular wall is thin and often not demonstrable at sonography.