Right colonic diverticulitis: MR appearance

Background: We evaluated the magnetic resonance (MR) features of right colonic diverticulitis. Methods: This prospective study was based on five patients selected from a group of 156 patients admitted to the radiology department for further evaluation because of clinically suspected appendicitis. All five patients had ultrasound (US) and MR studies, and four patients also had computed tomography (CT). Results: In all five patients, right-side diverticulitis was seen as an outpouching of the right colon with associated circumferential wall thickening of the colon and surrounding inflammatory changes. Conclusions: Our results suggest that MR imaging can be useful in the diagnosis of right colonic diverticulitis. An inflamed diverticulum with adjacent colonic wall thickening and surrounding inflamed fat are characteristic MR signs. MR imaging can be a valuable alternative to CT in young or pregnant patients who have suspected appendicitis and an equivocal US result.