The importance of endoscopy in the diagnosis of neoplasms associated with diverticular disease of the colon, and its effect on surgical treatment.

The results of fibercolonoscopy performed in 149 patients with clinical and or X-ray appearances of diverticular disease are reported. Examination could not be completed in 16 per cent of patients because of impassable strictures in the left colon. Concurrent lesions were diagnosed in 69 per cent, and carcinoma was found in 6 per cent. The respective role of endoscopy and radiology are compared in the diagnosis of polyps, strictures, and cancer, coexisting with diverticulosis. It is concluded that colonoscopy is always indicated in diverticulosis with symptoms because it often provides a precise differential diagnosis thus obviating useless operations. Surgery is essential when impassable strictures prevent colonoscopy because the underlying conditions always require surgical treatment.