Association between Meckel's diverticulum and Crohn's disease: a retrospective review.

The operation notes and pathology records of 294 consecutive patients who had right hemicolectomy for Crohn's disease were reviewed. A Meckel's diverticulum was found in 17 (5.8%) of these patients, 2-3 times the expected rate in the general population. At least 50% of diverticula in the normal population contain heterotopic mucosa, but none was found in those diverticula that were examined from this group. The increased prevalence of Meckel's diverticulum in patients with Crohn's disease confirms previous anecdotal reports, but the cause for the increased frequency remains unexplained. The significance of this finding is discussed.