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A multicentre study assessing the role of routine colonoscopy after acute uncomplicated diverticulitis and the incidence of colorectal cancer diagnosis

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Abstract

Purpose

The low rates of colonic malignancy detected on interval colonoscopy for patients diagnosed with diverticulitis have led recent studies to question the utility of the practice. The aim of this study was to assess the detection rate of colorectal cancer on colonoscopy for patients with a first episode of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis across three separate centres in Ireland and the UK.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed of patients with a first episode of acute, uncomplicated diverticulitis who underwent interval colonoscopy at three separate centres in the UK and Ireland between 2007 and 2019. The follow-up period was one year.

Results

A total of 5485 patients were admitted with acute diverticulitis between the three centres. All patients had CT verified diverticulitis. A 90.8% (n = 4982) underwent subsequent colonic evaluation with colonoscopy. Of these, a histologically proven diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma was made in 1.28% (n = 64).

Conclusion

Routine colonoscopy following an episode of acute, uncomplicated diverticulitis may not be necessary in every patient. It may be appropriate to reserve this more invasive investigation for those with higher risk factors for malignancy.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are not openly available due to reasons of sensitivity and are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Princess Royal University Hospital, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Kaushiki Singh & Hasan Al Chalabi

  2. University Hospitals of Derby & Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK

    Sarah Liptrot & Sam Tou

  3. St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Brian Mehigan, Paul McCormick, Narayasamy Ravi & John Reynolds

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  1. Kaushiki Singh
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Contributions

Kaushiki Singh and Hasan Al Chalabi wrote the main manuscript text. All authors contributed to study design, data collection and data analysis.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kaushiki Singh.

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This research study was conducted retrospectively from data obtained for clinical purposes and was in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committees.

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Singh, K., Liptrot, S., Tou, S. et al. A multicentre study assessing the role of routine colonoscopy after acute uncomplicated diverticulitis and the incidence of colorectal cancer diagnosis. Int J Colorectal Dis 38, 84 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-023-04374-0

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