Treating patients with abdominal symptoms secondary to colonic diverticula is daily practice for general practitioners, gastroenterologists, surgeons and other physicians. At first sight, diagnosis and therapy seem to be straightforward. Nevertheless, discussions on details concerning understanding and management of this disorder often reveal differing views and immediately demonstrate that many questions remain unresolved.
An approach to diverticular disease that is generally accepted is lacking. One reason may be that there is a certain paucity of scientific discussion. In contrast to other topics, diverticular disease is rarely found on the agenda of meetings and symposia.
The book, the proceedings of Falk Symposium 148 on Diverticular Disease: Emerging Evidence in a Common Condition, held in Munich, Germany, on 17–18 June 2005, covers many aspects of diverticular disease, from new scientific knowledge to exchange of clinical experience, and will provide much-needed information to basic scientists and clinicians alike.