J Korean Radiol Soc.  1988 Oct;24(5):840-843. 10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.5.840.

Changing incidence of diverticular disease of the colon in Korea : a serial radiologic study (report III)

• Kwoen YT
• Han SI
• Chung SK
• Bahk YW

• KMID: 2359218
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.5.840

Abstract

Diverticular disease of the colon (DDC), the most common affliction in developed countries, increases inincidence. It is an acquired disease where overactivity of smooth muscle of the colon causes mucosa and submucosato herniate through the muscle layer of the bowel. Starting from 1964, we have periodically carried out radiologic survey to acertain the tendency of DDC to gradually increase in the Koreans. Initially Kim repoerted the incidenceto be 0.2% in 1964 but the incidence in 1979 increased to 2.5% as reported by Chung et al. As the third survey onthe series of the study on DDC, we have recently reviewed 1,859 consecutive new cases of double contrast bariumenemas performed at the department of radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholoic University Medical Collegeduring the 5 years' period from Feb. 1983 to May 1987. The results were as follows. 1. The present study revealedan incidence 6.0% of DDC, 7.2% in male and 5.0% in female(Table1). 2. The distribution of diverticula was 37.0% incecum, 39.0% in ascending colon, 13.6% in transverse colon, 6.2% in descending colon, 3.7% in sigmoid colon (Table 3). 3. The mean number of diverticula was 5(Table 4). 4. The average age of patients with DDC was 50.5 years(Table2). From the present study, it has emerged that the diverticular disease of the colon in the Koreans is definitelyon gradual increase with a significant change in the site of predominant involvement from the right to the leftcolon.

MeSH Terms

Colon*
Colon, Ascending
Colon, Descending
Colon, Sigmoid
Colon, Transverse
Developed Countries
Diverticulum
Humans
Incidence*
Korea*
Male
Mucous Membrane
Muscle, Smooth