[Intestinal pneumatosis. Right colon cystic form with linear aspect on scan]

Presse Med. 2002 Jun 15;31(21 Pt 1):973-5.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Introduction: Digestive pneumatosis corresponds to the presence of air in a wall of digestive tract. It is common to oppose primary cystic-type pneumatosis, involving the left colon, with linear-type pneumatosis that may affect the whole of the digestive tract.

Observation: In a 41 year-old man presenting with Sharp's syndrome, abdominal pain occurred revealing an isolated right colon pneumatosis. Although abdominal tomodensitometry showed a strictly linear pneumatosis, colposcopy revealed voluminous cysts.

Conclusion: With this case report, the limits of tomodensitometry in distinguishing linear from cystic forms are apparent. The importance of avoiding surgery is underlined. Our patient presented with a pneumo-peritonitis only requiring medical treatment since this disease generally regresses spontaneously.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Colonic Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Colonic Diseases / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / complications
  • Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed