Does diverticular disease increase the chance of later developing colon cancer?
No, diverticular disease doesn’t seem to increase the risk for colon cancer. But the symptoms of colon cancer can be quite similar to those of diverticular disease. Cancer and diverticula often look alike on CT scans (CT stands for Computed Tomography, a type of x-ray that shows the condition of soft tissue). So anyone suspected of having diverticular disease based on the findings of a CT scan should have a colonoscopy to rule out colon cancer. If no cancer is found, people with diverticular disease should undergo the same schedule of colon cancer screening as the general population.
