What radiologists should know about tomographic evaluation of acute diverticulitis of the colon

Acute diverticulitis of the colon is a common indication for computed tomography, and its diagnosis and complications are essential to determining the proper treatment and establishing the prognosis. The adaptation of the surgical classification for computed tomography has allowed the extent of intestinal inflammation to be established, the computed tomography findings correlating with the indication for treatment. In addition, computed tomography has proven able to distinguish among the main differential diagnoses of diverticulitis. This pictorial essay aims to present the computed tomography technique, main radiological signs, major complications, and differential diagnoses, as well as to review the classification of acute diverticulitis.