Giant diverticulum of the colon: report of two new cases and review of the literature.

Diverticulosis coli affects more than one in three individuals older than 65 in the Western world. Giant diverticulum of the colon is an extremely rare complication of diverticular disease; only 113 cases, mostly situated in the colon sigmoideum, have been reported in the world literature. Two new cases of giant diverticulum of the colon sigmoideum, with totally different clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management, are reported-one being the cause of chronic anemia and the other presenting as an acute abdomen. Based on a review of the literature, an update on symptomatology, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and therapeutical options of this rare disorder is provided.