In this report, we present the case of a 15-year-old female with a rare incidental finding of diverticulosis on imaging for investigation of acute abdominal pain. Images repeated for a similar presentation a year later demonstrate a progression of diverticular disease. Learning objectives: To appreciate the clinical and imaging characteristics of diverticular disease in a paediatric population. To raise clinical awareness of diverticulosis as a potential differential diagnosis for abdominal pain in the paediatric population

Diverticulosis is an acquired herniation of the mucosa and submucosa through the colonic muscle layers secondary to increased intraluminal pressure. 1 Risk factors include obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and low-fibre diets. Incidence increases with ageing; few childhood cases exist. 2 Paediatric diverticulosis is mostly seen in children with genetic conditions affecting colonic wall collagen. However, more cases are emerging with higher body mass indexes, westernised diets, and sedentary lifestyles.2 Typically, colonic diverticulosis is asymptomatic. 3 The presence of often non-specific abdominal complaints, including intermittent colicky...

A 15-year-old Caucasian female presenting with acute onset right iliac fossa pain and mildly raised inflammatory markers. Her BMI was 49. A venous phase CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast (figure 1) was performed which demonstrated prominent mesenteric lymph nodes in the right lower quadrant suggestive of mesenteric adenitis and the incidental finding of diverticulosis along the ascending and transverse colon. Twelve months later, the patient re-presented with sudden onset colicky right upper quadrant pain, again with mildly raised inflammatory markers. A non-contrast CT abdomen...

There are few case reports of diverticulosis in children. This patient’s repeat presentations with non-specific abdominal pain along with CT findings of diverticulosis could be attributed to SUDD. CT abdomen and pelvis are the most common imaging modality used for diagnosis of acute diverticulitis, but MRI may be a more appropriate imaging modality in children suspected of having diverticular disease due to the modality's reduced radiation exposure. This case report demonstrates the importance of recognition of SUDD in obese children presenting with non-specific abdominal pain,...

S. Kenyon: Nothing to disclose A. Attia: Nothing to disclose C. Ibraheem: Nothing to disclose

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