A case report of solitary caecal diverticulum presenting with melena

Abstract

Paper read at a meeting of the Societa` Italiana di Gastroenterologia held in Rome in June 1973. An extensive review of the literature has shown that cases of solitary caecal diverticulum presenting with melena are rare. A case of solitary caecal diverticulum presenting with melena is described and the relevant literature reviewed. Furthermore, the role of diverticular disease in the differential diagnosis of melena is discussed. Diverticula of the caecum are one of the causes of melena and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of rectal bleeding. The case reported here conforms to the group with which hemorrhage as a complication of diverticular disease is usually associated, specifically, elderly people over 60 with hypertension.