Pneumatosis intestinalis (also called intestinal pneumatosis, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, pneumatosis coli, or intramural bowel gas) is pneumatosis of an

intestine The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The GI tract contains all the major organs of the digestive system, in humans ...

, that is, gas cysts in the bowel wall. As a radiological sign it is highly suggestive for necrotizing enterocolitis. This is in contrast to gas in the intestinal lumen (which is relieved by

flatulence Flatulence, in humans, is the expulsion of gas from the intestines via the anus, commonly referred to as farting. "Flatus" is the medical word for gas generated in the stomach or bowels. A proportion of intestinal gas may be swallowed environm ...

). In newborns, pneumatosis intestinalis is considered diagnostic for necrotizing enterocolitis, and the gas is produced by bacteria in the bowel wall. The pathogenesis of pneumatosis intestinalis is poorly understood and is likely multifactorial. PI itself is not a disease, but rather a clinical sign. In some cases, PI is an incidental finding, whereas in others, it portends a life-threatening intra-abdominal condition. __TOC__

Additional images

File:Pneumatosis intestinalis CT LF Darmischaemie cor.jpg, Pneumatosis intestinalis at computed tomography in intestinal ischemia. Lung window for better representation of the gas deposits in the intestinal walls. Coronal reconstruction. File:Pneumatosis intestinalis CT LF cor.jpg, Pneumatosis intestinalis in the coronal computed tomography in lung window. It can be seen next to gas entrapment in the bowel wall and gas in the stomach wall and in numerous vessels, including the portal vein into the liver. File:Pneumatosis intestinalis CT LF Darmischaemie.jpg, Pneumatosis intestinalis in computed tomography with intestinal ischemia. Lung window for better representation of the gas deposits in the intestinal walls. File:Pneumatosis Intestinalis Radiograph.JPG, Upright AP radiograph showing gas in the wall of the small bowel in the left upper quadrant indicative of pneumatosis intestinalis. File:Pneumatosis Intestinalis CT.JPG, Coronal reformatted MDCT image showing extensive pneumatosis intestinalis in the left upper quadrant small bowel. The pneumatosis is more cystic and nodular in the small bowel in the midline and the right of midline. This patient had a relatively benign presentation without bowel ischemia and was treated conservatively. Image:Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, gross pathology 20G0022 lores.jpg, Alimentary tract of infant showing intestinal necrosis, pneumatosis intestinalis, and perforation site (arrow) (autopsy) File:Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis - low mag.jpg, Micrograph showing large bowel wall with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, a generally benign subset of pneumatosis intestinalis. H&E stain.

References

External links

Gastrointestinal tract disorders Radiologic signs {{med-sign-stub