Recent advances in diverticular disease.

Diverticulosis is the most common structural abnormality of the colon. Although most people with colonic diverticula remain asymptomatic, a significant proportion of those affected develop symptoms and may suffer from complications. Whereas early research in diverticular disease addressed the pathogenesis of the condition, recent work has focused on symptomatic or complicated disease. Recent epidemiologic studies have attempted to identify patients who are at increased risk of perforated diverticular disease, and developing knowledge in neurogastroenterology has suggested mechanisms responsible for underlying chronically symptomatic disease. Further research in these areas has the potential to provide targeted therapeutic strategies for people with colonic diverticula.