Pneumatosis coli
Updates to Article Attributes
Pneumatosis coli is a descriptive sign presenting radiographically as intramural gas limited to the colonic wall.
Terminology
There are different terminologies in the medical literature, such as pneumatosis intestinalis, pneumatosis coli, and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. Pneumatosis intestinalis is used when only the small bowel wall is involved. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is descriptive for multiple gaseous cysts along the bowel wall.
Pathology
In the paediatric population, it is most frequently seen in premature infants 1. Although symptoms are relatively mild, they are the same as those seen in early (stage I) necrotising enterocolitis.
In adults, the sign is usually found incidentally in asymptomatic patients 2.
Associations
- asthma
- emphysema
- cystic fibrosis
- immunosuppression 4
- steroids
Differential diagnosis
Pseudopneumatosis (mimics) include:
- gas trapped between bowel wall and luminal contents
- gas trapped by opposing mucosal folds
- gas bubbles adherent to the bowel wall
-<li>gas bubbles adherent to bowel wall</li>- +<li>gas bubbles adherent to the bowel wall</li>
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