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Diverticula of the stomach and small intestine: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Diverticula rarely affect the stomach, but develop in the duodenum in 25% of people. Most duodenal diverticula are solitary and are located in the descending part of the duodenum near the ampulla of Vater (periampullary). Jejunal diverticula are observed in approximately 0.26% of patients and are more common in patients with intestinal motility disorders. Meckel's diverticulum is located in the distal ileum.
Duodenal and jejunal diverticula are asymptomatic in >90% of cases and are usually diagnosed incidentally during radiologic or endoscopic examination of the upper GI tract for other pathology. Small bowel diverticula occasionally become complicated by bleeding or inflammation, causing pain and nausea. Some may perforate. For unknown reasons, patients with periampullary diverticula have an increased risk of gallstones and pancreatitis. Treatment is surgical resection, but the clinician should be cautious in recommending surgery in patients with a diverticulum and vague GI symptoms (eg, dyspepsia).
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