Crohn's-like reaction in diverticular disease.
BACKGROUND
Diverticulitis and Crohn's disease affecting the colon occur at similar sites in older individuals, and in combination are said to carry a worse prognosis than either disease in isolation. It is possible that diverticulitis may initiate inflammatory changes which resemble Crohn's disease histologically, but do not carry the clinical implications of chronic inflammatory bowel disease.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate histological features and clinical outcome in individuals initially diagnosed histologically as having both Crohn's colitis and diverticulitis.


METHODS
Eleven consecutive individuals having a colonic resection showing histological features of both Crohn's disease and diverticulitis.


METHODS
Retrospective review of histological specimens, case notes, and discharge letters.


RESULTS
In nine patients, the Crohn's-like reaction was confined to the segment bearing diverticula. They had no clinical evidence of Crohn's disease.


CONCLUSIONS
A Crohn's-like inflammatory response can be a localised reaction to diverticulitis and does not necessarily indicate chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Gledhill
A
A
Department of Histopathology, Harrogate General Hospital, UK.
Dixon
M F
MF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies