Abstract
Diverticulitis is a common cause of abdominal pain in patients presenting to emergency departments. The incidence increases with age. Guidelines for its diagnosis and treatment are evolving. Computerized axial tomography (CT) scanning has been the most commonly used diagnostic tool. There are concerns for the increasing number of CT scans routinely ordered, with the resultant radiation exposure. We discuss this controversy as well as those regarding medical and surgical treatment. In addition, we have reviewed cases of patients who presented with abdominal pain and were diagnosed with uncomplicated diverticulitis based on clinical parameters and CT findings. We analyzed outcomes and presented a number of issues being questioned about this frequent illness. The study, which was retrospective and small, did not allow for definitive conclusions but highlights that randomized investigations need to be performed in the future to further clarify ongoing questions about diverticulitis.