Colonic diverticulitis in adolescents: an index case and associated syndromes

• Published in: Pediatric surgery international Vol. 25; no. 10; pp. 901 - 905
• Main Authors: Santin, Brian J., Prasad, Vinay, Caniano, Donna A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.10.2009; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Case Report; Diverticulitis, Colonic - diagnosis; Diverticulitis, Colonic - genetics; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pediatric Surgery; Pediatrics; Sigmoid Diseases - diagnosis; Sigmoid Diseases - genetics; Surgery; Williams Syndrome - complications; Williams Syndrome - diagnosis; Williams Syndrome - genetics; Williams–Beuren syndrome; Sigmoid diverticulitis
• ISSN: 0179-0358; 1437-9813
• DOI: 10.1007/s00383-009-2472-1

Diverticular disease of the colon, a common problem among adults, is diagnosed rarely in children. We report an adolescent patient with sigmoid diverticulitis who required operative treatment. Pediatric patients with the complications of diverticula typically have conditions that result in genetic alterations affecting the components of the colonic wall. Our patient had Williams–Beuren syndrome, although Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and cystic fibrosis may also be associated with colonic diverticula in adolescence. Pediatric patients with these disorders who experience abdominal pain should be evaluated for the presence of colonic diverticular complications.