Acute diverticulitis is an inflammatory complication of diverticulosis and can either be uncomplicated or complicated. Making the distinction between uncomplicated and complicated acute diverticulitis is essential because treatment strategies differ between the two. Here, we discuss 10 mistakes frequently made when managing patients with acute diverticulitis. We focus on using the correct terminology, diagnostic preference and several treatment options, such as omitting or administering antibiotics, radiological interventions and various aspects of surgery. Acute diverticulitis is an important topic because its incidence is rising worldwide and it is becoming a considerable burden on healthcare systems. Most of the discussion included here is evidence-based, supplemented with many years’ combined clinical experience where evidence is lacking.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains an important global health concern. It is estimated that there are approximately 50 million people infected with HCV globally, with around 1 million new infections each year and about 242,000 deaths annually attributed to HCV-related complications. Most acute HCV infections (55–85%) become chronic due to the virus’s effective evasion strategies, with spontaneous clearance being rare once chronicity is established. This condition often progresses silently, with many individuals unaware of their infection until advanced liver damage has occurred. If left untreated, HCV can lead to severe complications, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV transmission occurs mainly through percutaneous exposure to infected blood. HCV can also spread from mother to infant (vertical transmission) and, less frequently, via sexual contact.1,2 In recent years, the introduction of oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), with remarkable safety and effectiveness profiles, has led to a sustained virological response (SVR) in virtually all (>97%) HCV-infected patients, regardless of HCV genotype or disease stage. However, significant barriers remain, such as issues with diagnosis, access to treatment and awareness of the disease.

Here, we discuss some of the misconceptions in HCV management and provide a practical management approach grounded in evidence and clinical experience.

Chronic gastritis is a common condition that occurs when an inflammatory infiltrate is present in the gastric mucosa. Diverse factors can cause such inflammation to develop, including food, common bacteria (particularly Helicobacter pylori) and even some viruses. Although the inflammatory infiltrate itself may not cause a disease per se, in some cases gastritis will evolve into atrophic gastritis, ulcers or gastric cancer. Clinicians therefore need to be aware of when gastritis is a harmless condition that can be left alone and when further action is required. In addition, many patients and some clinicians use the term ‘chronic gastritis’ to describe symptoms, mostly those of dyspepsia. This misuse of the terminology can lead to the erroneous conclusion that a diagnosis is being discussed and not a symptom. Here we address these mistakes and some of the others that are frequently made when managing patients with chronic gastritis. We discuss how to avoid making the mistakes to ensure that patients are managed adequately while reducing over treatment.

Barrett’s oesophagus is a premalignant condition of the distal oesophagus predisposing to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Given the potential for malignant progression and the poor prognosis of eosophageal adenocarcinoma when diagnosed at a symptomatic stage, patients with known Barrett oesophagus undergo regular endoscopic surveillance to detect neoplastic progression at an early and preferably endoscopically, treatable stage. Endoscopic management of early Barrett oesophagus neoplasia consists of a combination of endoscopic imaging, endoscopic resection and endoscopic ablation. Below we discuss a number of mistakes that are frequently made when managing Barrett oesophagus neoplasia and how to avoid them. Much of this discussion draws on existing guidelines (for background reading, check the ESGE Barrett oesophagus guideline), but in many instances the underlying evidence (even in the guideline) is missing and therefore many of our practically driven recommendations are based on common sense and our experience in this field.