title: Colonic Diverticula Are Not Associated With an Increased Risk of Colorectal Adenomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with missed colorectal cancer have been reported to be more likely to have colonic diverticulosis. Such an association could be due to either higher risk of neoplasia or difficulty examining the colon in patients with diverticulosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether colonic diverticula are associated with an increased risk for colonic neoplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from a prospective study of patients undergoing screening colonoscopy that included detailed assessment of all colonic diverticula and colorectal polyps. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals while adjusting for confounding variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our analyses included 624 participants. Of these, 216 (35%) had one or more colorectal adenomas. Diverticula on colonoscopy were not associated with an increased risk of adenomas (odds ratio (OR) 1.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-1.4) or advanced adenomas (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.4-1.5). Those with the greatest burden of diverticula (10 or more) did not have an increased risk of adenomas (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.7-1.8) compared with no diverticula. Colonic diverticula were not associated with an increased risk of proximal (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.6-1.6) or distal adenomas (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.6-1.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with colonic diverticula do not have an increased risk of colorectal adenomas or advanced adenomas.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Anne F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Peery
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Sidney E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Levinson
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Sandler
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004241:Diverticulum, Colon / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies