Pneumatosis intestinalis refers to presence of gas in the intestinal wall. In the majority of cases (85%), it is a result of a variety of clinical conditions. In the other 15%, it is primary or idiopathic in etiology.
The pathogenesis is multifactorial, including intraluminal gas, intestinal flora, mucosal integrity, and intraluminal pressure.
Cysts are either submucosal, seen often in the colon, or subserosal, seen in the small intestine.
Synopsis
diarrhea
hematochezia
circumferential polypoid lesions
superficial mucosal hemorrhages
"crackling" noise
multiple polypoid, air filled, submucosal cysts that ranged in size from 0.4-1.6 cm
Subtypes
pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
Associations (Examples)
ischemic enteritis
AIDS
CMV infection
transplantation (allograft)
cystic fibrosis (16702447, 8835977)
See also
- intestinal pneumatosis
- colonic pneumatosis (pneumatosis coli)
References
Koreishi A, Lauwers GY, Misdraji J. Pneumatosis intestinalis: a challenging biopsy diagnosis. Am J Surg Pathol. 2007 Oct;31(10):1469-75. PMID: 17895747
Pear BL.Pneumatosis intestinalis: a review. Radiology. 1998 Apr;207(1):13-9. PMID: 9530294
Koss LG. Abdominal gas cysts (pneumatosis cystodies intestinorum hominis) (an analysis with a report of a case and a critical review of the literature). Arch Pathol. 1953;53:523-549.
Shoesmith J, Crone W. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. Br J Surg. 1959;46:601-602.