Routine colonoscopy is not required in uncomplicated diverticulitis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: It is generally accepted that patients following an episode of diverticulitis should have additional colonoscopy screening to rule out a colorectal malignancy. We aimed to investigate the rate of CRC found by colonoscopy after an attack of uncomplicated diverticulitis.

METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched systematically for clinical trials or observational studies on colonic evaluation by colonoscopy after the initial diagnosis of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis, followed by hand-searching of reference lists.

RESULTS: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria and included a total number of 2,490 patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis. Subsequent colonoscopy after an episode of uncomplicated diverticulitis was performed in 1,468 patients (59%). Seventeen patients were diagnosed with CRC, having a prevalence of 1.16% (95% confidence interval 0.72-1.9% for CRC). Hyperplastic polyps were seen in 156 patients (10.6%), low-grade adenoma in 90 patients (6.1%), and advanced adenoma was reported in 32 patients (2.2%).

CONCLUSION: Unless colonoscopy is regarded for screening in individuals aged 50 years and older, routine colonoscopy in the absence of other clinical signs of CRC is not required.