Acute diverticulitis in young adults.

Diverticular disease of the colon is generally considered a disease of older patients, rarely causing symptoms before age 40. Two recent cases of ruptured sigmoid diverticulitis in young female patients presenting to our Emergency Department prompted a review of the literature on this topic. Diverticulitis is more common in patients under 40 than previously suspected. Presented are the two cases and a brief summary of the literature review.