There are many disorders that can affect the sigmoid colon. The sigmoid colon is an S-shaped portion of the colon near its terminal end, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. The website goes on to explain that the cecum, the transverse colon and the sigmoid colon are suspended from the back wall of the abdomen by the mesentery, a double layer of tissue that supports the intestinal tract.
Diverticular Disease
Diverticular disease is a disorder that can affect the sigmoid colon. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, diverticular disease involves the formation of pouches, or diverticula, in the colon's wall. Most diverticula manifest in the sigmoid colon. As a person grows older, more diverticula may form. The UMMC states that diverticular disease occurs most often in countries such as the United States, where fiber consumption is low. Approximately 50 percent of American adults over 70 years of age have diverticula, although about 80 percent are free of symptoms. The other 20 percent of people with diverticular disease may experience symptoms such as abdominal pain in the left lower quadrant following a meal, bloody stool, fever, nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating and constipation or diarrhea. According to the UMMC, the cause of diverticular disease is unknown, although aging, a low-fiber diet and physical abnormalities, among other factors, may contribute to diverticular disease in the sigmoid colon.
Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is a disorder that can affect the sigmoid colon. The National Cancer Institute states that most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas, or cancers that manifest in mucus-producing cells. Risk factors for colon and rectal cancer--collectively known as colorectal cancer--include being over the age of 50, the presence of colorectal polyps, a family history of colorectal cancer, certain gene alterations, a personal history of cancer, tobacco consumption, a low-fiber diet and inflammatory colon conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a disorder that can affect the sigmoid colon. According to the Mayo Clinic website, ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, causes sustained inflammation of the intestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis typically affects the inner lining of a person's large intestine or colon and rectum. It affects continuous stretches of colon tissue, unlike Crohn's disease, which causes patches of inflamed tissue to develop anywhere in the digestive tract. The Mayo Clinic website notes that ulcerative colitis symptoms vary, depending on the severity and location of colon inflammation. Physicians often categorize ulcerative colitis based on its location. There are five different types of ulcerative colitis: ulcerative proctitis, proctosigmoiditis, left-sided colitis, pancolitis and fulminant colitis. Proctosigmoiditis is the type of ulcerative colitis that affects the sigmoid colon. Proctosigmoiditis is characterized by bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and tenesmus, or ineffective and painful straining during a bowel movement.
