Acute diverticulitis of the cecum encountered at emergency surgery

About one-third of all cases of acute cecal diverticulitis will be hidden within the wall forming a mass indistinguishable from carcinoma until the resected specimen is examined carefully. A tiny diverticulum measuring no more than 1 mm. in diameter may be found. Statistically this type of lesion has occurred once in 1,100 emergency celiotomies for acute conditions of the abdomen. If the patient's condition is satisfactory and the surgeon is prepared, resection of the right colon is advised. For the usual obvious variety of cecal diverticulitis, simple excision and closure is all that is necessary.