DIVERTICULITIS OF THE ASCENDING COLON

THERE has been increasing interest in cecal diverticulitis since the first case was reported by Portier 1 in 1912. Since that time, however, no distinction between diverticulitis of the cecum and diverticulitis of the ascending colon has been made in the literature. In a recent paper we separated these two entities and stressed cecal diverticulitis. 2 The differences between them are sufficient to warrant this presentation. Up to the present there have been 14 reported cases of diverticulitis of the ascending colon. 3 To this number we are adding two cases. The pitfalls in the analysis of a limited number of cases are apparent. INCIDENCE According to some investigators, 4 the incidence of diverticula of the large bowel varies from 3.0 to 6.9%. Only 1.5 to 2.0% of these diverticula are recorded as occurring in the right half of the colon. It is difficult to state accurately the occurrence rate