Frequency, sensitivity, and specificity of individual signs of diverticulitis on thin-section helical CT with colonic contrast material: Experience with 312 cases

OBJECTIVE. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency, sensitivity, and specificity of the individual signs of diverticulitis using helical CT with colonic contrast material. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Between March 1997 and September 1999, 312 patients with suspected diverticulitis were examined on helical CT using rectally administered colonic contrast material. CT scans that were positive for diverticulitis or indeterminate were rereviewed by two radiologists; CT interpretations were correlated with patients' clinical courses and surgical findings. RESULTS. One hundred fourteen (37%) of the 312 CT scans were interpreted as positive for diverticulitis; 192 scans (61%), as negative; six scans (2%), as indeterminate. Of the 114 scans that were positive for diverticulitis, 109 (96%; sensitivity 96%, specificity 91%) showed bowel wall thickening; 108 (95%; sensitivity 96%, specificity 90%.), fat stranding; 104 (91%; sensitivity 91%, specificity 67%), diverticula; 57 (50%; sensitivity 50%, specificity 100%), fascial thickening; 51 (45%; sensitivity 45%, specificity 97%), free fluid; 49 (43%; sensitivity 43%, specificity 100%), inflamed diverticula; 34 (30% sensitivity 30%, specificity 100%), free air; 18 (16%; sensitivity 16%, specificity 100%), "arrowhead" signs; nine (8%; sensitivity 8%, specificity 99%), abscesses; four (4%; sensitivity 4%, specificity 100%,), phlegmons; five (4%; sensitivity 4%, specificity 99%), intramural air; two (2%; sensitivity 2%, specificity 100%), intramural sinus tracts. Overall CT interpretation had a sensitivity of 99%, a specificity of 99%, a positive predictive value of 99%, a negative predictive value of 99%, and an overall accuracy of 99%. CONCLUSION. The two most frequent signs of diverticulitis were bowel wall thickening (96%) and fat stranding (95%). Less frequent but highly specific signs were fascial thickening (50%), free fluid (45%), and inflamed diverticula (43%).