Complicated Diverticulitis with Infective Spondylitis and Bilateral Psoas Abscesses: A Classic Case of Late Diagnosis

Introduction: Diverticular disease is said to be complicated when the acute inflammation of a diverticulum leads to perforation, bleeding, formation of abscesses, bowel wall strictures or obstruction. The vague clinical presentation and rarity of complications in our environment contributes largely to misdiagnosis of the condition.

Case Report: This report is the case of a 50-year-old male who presented multiple times to the general outpatient department of a teaching hospital in North Central Nigeria with insidious onset of malaise, intermittent fever, progressive weight loss ,left flank pain and swelling, low back and waist pain radiating to the leg .Different misleading diagnoses were made within the period .The final definitive diagnosis of complicated Diverticulitis with distant lumbar Spondylodiscitis and bilateral psoas abscess with epidural extension was made with Computer tomography, CT.

Conclusion: This case demonstrates the challenge of early diagnosis of Diverticular disease and highlights the need for vigilance on the path of physicians to recognize signs and symptoms of diverticulitis with the aim of preventing its complications. There is also need for early and appropriate imaging.