Portal venous gas and pneumatosis intestinalis; radiologic signs with wide range of significance in surgery

Abstract

Background: Portal vein gas (PVG) was described as an uncommon ominous radiologic sign usually harboring an intra-abdominal catastrophe. When accompanied by pneumatosis intestinalis (PI), it is more predictive of bowel ischemia. Since the wide use of computed tomography (CT), both signs could also be viewed as incidental findings during routine radiologic investigations.

Methods: We present a series of 12 cases that showed either or both signs, collected in a district general hospital between 1991 and 2011.

Results: The diagnoses in these cases varied between fatal bowel ischemia and the mere presence of radiologic signs in the absence of significant pathology.

Conclusion: PVG and PI are radiologic signs that can represent a wide range of pathology.