title: [Solitary diverticulum of the cecum: experience of a Brazilian general hospital].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cecal diverticulitis is a rare condition, specially in western people. Its importance concerns of being part of the differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis and ulcerated cecal carcinoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present the experience of southern Brazilian general hospital in the treatment of cecal diverticulitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present four cases of single inflamed cecal diverticulum. One was diagnosed by pre-operatively computer tomography and was treated medically without complications. The other three cases were diagnosed during operation and treated by right hemicolectomy and ileotransverse anastomosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no deaths or complications. When cecal diverticulitis is pre-operatively diagnosed it may be treated medically. We preclude laparotomy when the diagnosis is uncertain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend radical surgical management when the diagnosis is made during operation.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS. aljair@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Aljamir Duarte
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Chedid
authors.forename: Luciano Amaral
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.forename: Marcio Fernandes
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chedid
authors.forename: Maitê de Mello
authors.initials: Mde M
authors.lastname: Villwock
authors.forename: Antônio Renato
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mondelo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004238:Diverticulitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged