Familial jejuno-ileal diverticulitis: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION: Jejuno-ileal diverticulitis (JID) is a rare entity, presenting with symptoms of failure to thrive, abdominal pain, obstruction, bleeding, and acute or chronic perforation with associated pneumoperitoneum. Currently no specific genetic abnormality has been identified that leads to JID. Treatment is based on control of symptoms associated with the disease. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We describe a familial cohort of patients with JID, with associated symptoms of chronic pneumoperitoneum, including a proposed genetic inheritance pattern and pedigree. In addition, we will describe the operative treatment of one family member's JID and chronic pneumoperitoneum. DISCUSSION: While JID is rare, this familial cohort demonstrates a pattern of inheritance most consistent with autosomal dominance. The pathology demonstrates true diverticula, unlike most previous descriptions of JID. The index patient was successfully treated by minimally invasive surgery. CONCLUSION: Familial JID is a rare entity, without an identified genetic abnormality. Treatment of chronic symptoms currently focuses on non-operative management. While most case reports involve individual patients, this cohort may possess a genetic mutation with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Further study into patients with JID may reveal an underlying genetic abnormality associated with development of the disease.