Diverticulosis and neoplastic lesions in screening colonoscopy: a large, multicenter study.

Background: Data on the potential association between diverticulosis and colonic neoplastic lesions are still controversial. We investigated this issue in subjects who underwent screening colonoscopy.

Methods: We reviewed the data of subjects with a positive fecal immunological test who underwent a first colonoscopy in the national colorectal screening program. Endoscopic and histological reports were evaluated, using both univariate and multivariate analyses to search for an association between diverticulosis and colonic neoplastic lesions.

Results: Data from 5050 subjects (males: 52.2%; mean age: 61.7±6.5 years) observed in the 7 participating centers were considered. Diverticula were found in 2176 (43.1%) cases; at least 1 adenoma was detected in 2277 (45.1%) patients, at least 1 advanced adenoma in 842 (16.7%); and cancer was diagnosed in 159 (3.1%) cases. By univariate analysis, the prevalence of adenomas in patients with diverticula (46.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 44.6-48.8%) was significantly higher than in controls (43.8%, 95%CI 42.1-45.7%; P=0.041), while prevalences of both advanced adenomas (13.8%, 95%CI 16.3-19.5%) and cancers (2.4%, 95%CI 1.7-3.1% vs. 3.7%, 95%CI 3.1-4.4%) were lower. By multivariate analysis, only male sex (odds ratio [OR] range: 1.54-2.05) and age (OR range: 1.03-1.05) were found to be independent variables associated with different neoplastic lesions in the colon, whilst diverticulosis was not.

Conclusion: This large, multicenter study found no significant association between diverticulosis and neoplastic lesions in subjects who underwent screening colonoscopy.