Diverticulum of the stomach and small intestine: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Diverticula rarely affects the stomach, but develop in the duodenum in 25% of people. Most duodenal diverticula are single and localized in the descending portion of the duodenum near the Fater ampoule (periampulant). Diverticulum of jejunum is observed in approximately 0.26% of patients and is more characteristic of patients with disorders of intestinal motility. Meckel's diverticulum is localized in the distal ileum.
Duodenal diverticula and jejunal diverticula occur asymptomatically in more than 90% of cases and are usually diagnosed accidentally during radiological or endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract for another pathology. Sometimes diverticula of the small intestine are complicated by bleeding or inflammation, causing pain and nausea. Some can perforate. For unknown reasons, patients with periampulicular diverticula are at increased risk of gallstones and pancreatitis. Treatment consists in surgical resection, however, the clinician should be cautious in the recommendations of surgical treatment in patients with diverticulum and undefined gastrointestinal symptoms (eg, dyspepsia).
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