Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (629 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A pouch or sac developed from a tubular or saccular organ, such as the gastrointestinal tract.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Diverticula; Diverticulosis.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Diverticular Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical
- Narrower topics
- Diverticulum, Colon; Diverticulum, Esophageal; Diverticulum, Stomach; Meckel Diverticulum
- See also
- Diverticular Diseases
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 19,313 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Diverticulum” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 1,666 of them (8.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 11,941 records.
Reviews account for 1,519 records (7.9%) and meta-analyses for 48. Randomized controlled trials number 40 (0.2%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 11,941 |
| 2000-2009 | 2,621 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,085 |
| 2020 onward | 1,666 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,519 | 7.9% |
| Meta-analyses | 48 | 0.2% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 40 | 0.2% |
Method: PubMed query "Diverticulum"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in digestive system and liver
Gut and liver research ranges from laboratory studies of the microbiome to large trials of drugs and surgery. Symptoms such as pain, reflux or bowel change are reported by patients and overlap between conditions, and diet and microbiome studies are mostly observational. Check whether the study measured symptoms, tissue findings or long-term outcomes, how the diagnosis was made and how long people were followed. Nothing here replaces advice from a qualified clinician.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathophysiology of Diverticular Disease: From Diverticula Formation to Symptom Generation | 2022 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 34 | cc by PMID 35743141 · DOI · PMC9223421 |
| Colonic diverticular perforation by a migrated biliary stent: A case report with literature review | 2021 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 13 | cc by PMID 34967373 · DOI · PMC8718208 |
| Small bowel diverticula in elderly patients: a case report and review article | 2022 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 12 | cc by PMID 35303837 · DOI · PMC8932322 |
| Small Bowel Diverticulosis and COVID-19: Awareness Is the Key: A Case Series and Review of the Literature | 2024 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 3 | cc by PMID 38399517 · DOI · PMC10890375 |
Pathophysiology of Diverticular Disease: From Diverticula Formation to Symptom Generation [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Diverticular disease is a common clinical problem, particularly in industrialized countries.
- Closing excerpt
- In the present review, we will summarize the up-to-date knowledge on the pathophysiology of diverticula and their different clinical setting, including diverticulosis and SUDD.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (147 words)
Diverticular disease is a common clinical problem, particularly in industrialized countries. In most cases, colonic diverticula remain asymptomatic throughout life and sometimes are found incidentally during colonic imaging in colorectal cancer screening programs in otherwise healthy subjects. Nonetheless, roughly 25% of patients bearing colonic diverticula develop clinical manifestations. Abdominal symptoms associated with diverticula in the absence of inflammation or complications are termed symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD). The pathophysiology of diverticular disease as well as the mechanisms involved in the shift from an asymptomatic condition to a symptomatic one is still poorly understood. It is accepted that both genetic factors and environment, as well as intestinal microenvironment alterations, have a role in diverticula development and in the different phenotypic expressions of diverticular disease. In the present review, we will summarize the up-to-date knowledge on the pathophysiology of diverticula and their different clinical setting, including diverticulosis and SUDD.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35743141 · DOI · PMC9223421
Colonic diverticular perforation by a migrated biliary stent: A case report with literature review [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- RationalePlastic endobiliary stents, after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, can get spontaneously dislocated from the common bile duct and migrate intothe distal bowel.
- Closing excerpt
- In symptomatic cases suggesting peritonitis, abdominal computed tomography scan confirmation is needed, and early intervention should be considered.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (216 words)
RationalePlastic endobiliary stents, after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, can get spontaneously dislocated from the common bile duct and migrate intothe distal bowel. Most migrated biliary stents are removed with the passing of stool. However, migrated biliary stents can cause bowel perforation, albeit rarely, and surgical intervention may be required. Recently, we observed a colonic diverticular perforation caused by a migrated biliary stent, and we have reported this case with a review of the literature.Patients concernsA 74-year-old man presented with severe right lower quadrant pain after biliary stent insertion 1month ago.DiagnosesAbdominal computed tomography revealed perforation of the proximal ascending colon by the migrated biliary stent, combined with localized peritonitis.InterventionsEmergency diagnostic laparoscopic examination revealed penetration of the proximal ascending colon by the plastic biliary stent, and right hemicolectomy was performed.OutcomesOn pathological examination, colonic diverticular perforation by the biliary stent was confirmed. The patient was discharged without any additional complications.LessonsEndoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography endoscopists must always be cautious of the possibility of stent migration in patients with biliary stents in situ. In cases of biliary stent dislocation from the common bile duct in asymptomatic patients, follow-up with serial, plain abdominal radiographs, and physical examination is needed until confirmation of spontaneous passage through stool. In symptomatic cases suggesting peritonitis, abdominal computed tomography scan confirmation is needed, and early intervention should be considered.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 34967373 · DOI · PMC8718208
Small bowel diverticula in elderly patients: a case report and review article [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundSmall intestine diverticula are rare findings that were mostly reported in the elderly population as asymptomatic findings.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionsThroughout this paper, we are aiming to outweigh the consideration of the possibility of complicated small bowel diverticula as a differential in the evaluation of any acute abdomen, especially in the elderly, which warrants emergency surgical management.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (128 words)
BackgroundSmall intestine diverticula are rare findings that were mostly reported in the elderly population as asymptomatic findings. However, they can also present with a wide range of symptoms (bloating, early satiety, chronic abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea/steatorrhea) or complications (gastrointestinal bleeding, small bowel obstruction, acute diverticulitis, or perforation) which in turn warrant medical treatment or urgent surgical intervention.Case presentationThis is a case report of an 84-year-old female who presented with an acute surgical abdomen. An exploratory laparotomy revealed complicated small bowel diverticula with a jejunal diverticulum perforation, for which a diverticulectomy was performed.ConclusionsThroughout this paper, we are aiming to outweigh the consideration of the possibility of complicated small bowel diverticula as a differential in the evaluation of any acute abdomen, especially in the elderly, which warrants emergency surgical management.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35303837 · DOI · PMC8932322
Small Bowel Diverticulosis and COVID-19: Awareness Is the Key: A Case Series and Review of the Literature [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Small bowel non-Meckelian diverticulosis is a rare condition with only a few published cases despite being described over 200 years ago.
- Closing excerpt
- However, when complications arise, surgical intervention, including enteroctomy and primary anastomosis, may be necessary to achieve optimal outcomes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (138 words)
Small bowel non-Meckelian diverticulosis is a rare condition with only a few published cases despite being described over 200 years ago. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, studies suggested that many patients may experience gastrointestinal manifestations. Intestinal symptoms could worsen the inflammation and infection associated with small bowel diverticulitis. Here we present three cases: one with inflammation and rupture in a COVID-19 patient and another as an asymptomatic detection. The third case involved recurrence after the first laparoscopic lavage approach. Furthermore, we provide a mini-review of the literature to emphasize the importance of considering this entity in the differential diagnosis of an acute abdomen. In the majority of cases involving small bowel diverticula, conservative management is the preferred approach. However, when complications arise, surgical intervention, including enteroctomy and primary anastomosis, may be necessary to achieve optimal outcomes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 38399517 · DOI · PMC10890375
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Systematic review of epidemiology, presentation, and management of Meckel's diverticulum in the 21st century [5]
- Research article Flexible endoscopic treatment for Zenker's diverticulum: a systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Zenker's Diverticulum [7]
- Research article Meckel's diverticulum in the adult [8]
- Research article Systematic review on treatment of Zenker's diverticulum [9]
- Research article Meckel's diverticulum: clinical features, diagnosis and management [10]
References
- Barbaro MR, Cremon C, Fuschi D, Marasco G, Palombo M, Stanghellini V, et al.. Pathophysiology of Diverticular Disease: From Diverticula Formation to Symptom Generation. . 2022. PMID 35743141 · DOI · PMC9223421
- Park TY, Hong SW, Oh HC, Do JH. Colonic diverticular perforation by a migrated biliary stent: A case report with literature review. . 2021. PMID 34967373 · DOI · PMC8718208
- Mansour M, Abboud Y, Bilal R, Seilin N, Alsuliman T, Mohamed FK. Small bowel diverticula in elderly patients: a case report and review article. . 2022. PMID 35303837 · DOI · PMC8932322
- Bangeas P, Konstantinidis N, Konstantinidis N, Chrisopoulou T, Karatzia D, Giakoustidis A, et al.. Small Bowel Diverticulosis and COVID-19: Awareness Is the Key: A Case Series and Review of the Literature. . 2024. PMID 38399517 · DOI · PMC10890375
- Hansen CC, Søreide K. Systematic review of epidemiology, presentation, and management of Meckel's diverticulum in the 21st century. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018. PMID 30170459 · DOI · PMC6392637
- Ishaq S, Hassan C, Antonello A, Tanner K, Bellisario C, Battaglia G, et al.. Flexible endoscopic treatment for Zenker's diverticulum: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gastrointest Endosc. 2016. PMID 26802196 · DOI
- Law R, Katzka DA, Baron TH. Zenker's Diverticulum. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014. PMID 24055983 · DOI
- Lequet J, Menahem B, Alves A, Fohlen A, Mulliri A. Meckel's diverticulum in the adult. J Visc Surg. 2017. PMID 28698005 · DOI
- Verdonck J, Morton RP. Systematic review on treatment of Zenker's diverticulum. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2015. PMID 25194579 · DOI
- Kuru S, Kismet K. Meckel's diverticulum: clinical features, diagnosis and management. Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2018. PMID 30032625 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.