Colonoscopy in the differential diagnosis of carcinoma from diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon

Abstract

Abstract Thirty-six patients in whom barium-enema examination had suggested the possibility of carcinoma in a segment of diverticular disease were examined by colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is particularly difficult in such patients and it failed to examine the diseased segment in 17 cases. Colonoscopy gave a firm diagnosis of carcinoma in 4 cases, excluded it in 5, and was helpful in another 9. There was 1 false negative.