Diverticular disease can progress to which inflammatory condition?

• A. Appendicitis
• B. Colitis
• C. Diverticulitis
• D. Gastritis

Answer: (C)

Diverticular disease refers to the presence of diverticula in the colon. When one of these outpouchings becomes inflamed or infected, the condition is diverticulitis. This happens because material can obstruct the diverticular neck or a tiny perforation allows bacteria to trigger inflammation, leading to localized abdominal pain and systemic signs like fever or an elevated white count.

This is why diverticulitis is the appropriate answer: it’s the inflammatory complication that diverticular disease can progress to. Other options describe inflammation in different parts of the GI tract (appendicitis in the appendix, gastritis in the stomach, colitis in the colon due to various causes) and aren’t direct progressions of diverticular disease.