Which lab finding would most support diverticulitis over ischemic colitis in an elderly patient with left lower quadrant pain?

• A. Normal WBC
• B. Elevated WBC
• C. Normal CRP
• D. Normal bilirubin

Answer: (B)

Elevated white blood cell count indicates an acute inflammatory or infectious process, which fits diverticulitis more than ischemic colitis. Diverticulitis involves infection/inflammation of colonic diverticula, so the body mounts a neutrophilic response, often shown as leukocytosis. Ischemic colitis, caused by reduced blood flow, can cause pain and sometimes bleeding, but it doesn’t characteristically provoke a strong leukocytosis; inflammatory markers like CRP can be elevated in both conditions, making them less specific. Normal bilirubin isn’t helpful here. So the presence of leukocytosis most strongly supports diverticulitis in this clinical scenario.