Diverticular disease definition

Diverticular disease is defined as outpockets or pouches in the bowel or colon (large bowel mainly) due to a weakness in the colon muscle wall. Symptoms from these can mimic ibs or the irritable bowel.

Diverticular disease on barium enema can be seen below:

Here is a barium enema showing multiple diverticulae or pockets in the colon, in this case the sigmoid colon. You can see the barium enema introducer tube in the bottom left hand side, through which the barium is passed. This looks like a milky substance to the 'naked eye'. This examination is very good for picking up this condition as well as strictures (narrowing in the bowel) due to this condition and other disorders such as bowel cancer.