Zullo, AngeloThe pathogenetic process of acute diverticulitis remains speculative. According to the most widely accepted theory, the mechanism involved is “traumatic” damage to the mucosa due to fecolith impaction, as occurs in large diverticula. However, not uncommonly, diverticulitis develops in young patients with only few and small diverticula, where fecolith trapping is very unlikely. Therefore, another theory is necessary to clarify this process. A possible explanation could be “ischemic” damage. According to this theory, an ischemic lesion is caused by the compression of vascular structures in the neck of the diverticular task, as a result of prolonged and/or recurrent contractile spikes related to neuromuscular alterations in the diverticular tract. Clearly, the “traumatic” and “ischemic” mechanisms of acute diverticulitis are not mutually exclusive, and may act in different patients. The existing data corroborating these theories are presented and different potential therapeutic approaches are briefly discussed. Keywords Diverticulitis, pathogenesis, therapy Ann Gastroenterol 2018; 31 (6): 747-749text/htmlapplication/pdfhttp://www.annalsgastro.gr/index.php/annalsgastro/article/view/4321engHellenic Society of GastroenterologyCopyright (c) 2018 Annals of Gastroenterology1792-74631108-7471Annals of Gastroenterology; Volume 31, No 6 (2018); 747Medical hypothesis: speculating on the pathogenesis of acute diverticulitisinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion2018-10-19Δημοσίευση σε περιοδικόPublication in journalΓαστροεντερολογίαGastroenterologyisi -Gastroenterology & Hepatology covers resources on the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pathology of the digestive system. This category includes specific resources on the prognosis and treatment of digestive diseases; stomach ulcers; metabolic, genetic, infectious and chemically induced diseases of the liver; colitis; diseases of the pancreas and diseases of the rectum.Επιστημονικό άρθροScientific articleΕλληνική Γαστροεντερολογική ΕταιρίαGreek Aggregator OpenArchives.gr | National Documentation Centre (EKT)other