PRACTICE GUIDELINES Diagnosis and （实践指南诊断和）.pdf

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY Vol. 94, No. 11, 1999 © 1999 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology ISSN 0002-9270/99/$20.00 Published by Elsevier Science Inc. PII S0002-9270(99)00560-2 PRACTICE GUIDELINES Diagnosis and Management of Diverticular Disease of the Colon in Adults Neil H. Stollman, M.D., F.A.C.P., and Jeffrey B. Raskin, M.D., F.A.C.P, F.A.C.G., for and on behalf of the Ad Hoc Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology* Division of Gastroenterology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida PREAMBLE INTRODUCTION Guidelines for clinical practice are intended to suggest pref- Diverticular disease of the colon is very common in devel- erable approaches to particular medical problems as estab- oped countries and its prevalence increases with age. To lished by interpretation and collation of scientifically valid refer to an acquired deformity present in perhaps two-thirds research, derived from extensive review of published liter- of the elderly as a ‘disease’ may be inaccurate, particularly ature. When data are not available, which will withstand as the large majority of those affected will remain entirely objective scrutiny, a recommendation may be made based asymptomatic. Nonetheless, an estimated 20% of patients on a consensus of experts. Guidelines are intended to apply may manifest clinical illness (1). The purpose of this guide- to the clinical situation for all physicians without regard to