IS HERNIA, DIVERTICULITIS OR SOMETHING ELSE? CONTRADICTORY CATSCAN

My 70 year old dad CAT scan at Kaiser says diverticulitis but another CAT scan taken at emergency facility in France says he has two hernias. Both say his case does not merit urgent surgery, nevertheless I do not know how is right. He has occasional lower right abdominal pain ; and had polips surgically removed in the past. It is possible to mix up them, or it might be something else? Should I ask for another CAT scan, and what should I inquiry for?

[LivingInHope]

Well, diverticulitis is when diverticula are inflammed.  Those are sac like pouches that form in the lining of the intestine where bits of food can get trapped.   A hernia is where there is a weakened muscle wall and what lies beneath bulges out.   A hernia can often be detected by physical exam.  They ask you to cough while they feel your abdomen to see if they can detect any bulging happening.

To really see diverticulitis well, they may want to do a colonoscopy.  I have a friend whose dad was told he had diverticulosis or diverticulitis (don't remember which) and when he got a colonoscopy, cancer was discovered.  Not saying that happens often at all- but if your doctor recommends it, you might consider  a colonoscopy seriously.