Primary pneumatosis intestinalis
Disclosures
- updated 19 Aug 2022:
Nothing to disclose
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
Primary pneumatosis intestinalis (PPI) is a benign idiopathic condition in which multiple gas-filled cystic lesions are seen in the gastrointestinal tract wall. The changes are usually seen initially on radiography or CT with CT being the more sensitive test.
Epidemiology
Primary pneumatosis intestinalis is rare and was shown in one study to comprise 15% of cases of all intestinal pneumatoses 3.
Clinical presentation
This condition is usually asymptomatic and presents as an incidental finding on medical imaging.
Pathology
Multiple gas-filled cysts are seen in the mucosa and submucosa of the small and large bowel.
Differential diagnosis
- ischaemic bowel: gas in the ischaemic bowel wall has a linear or bubble-like pattern, in contrast to the PPI gas pattern, which is circular
- causes of secondary pneumatosis intestinalis
- post-instrumentation of the bowel e.g. endoscopy, surgery
- COPD, ventilated patients
- drugs such as steroids, chemotherapy (e.g. bevacizumab)
- pseudopneumatosis: intraluminal gas trapped between faeces and the bowel wall
See also
-<li>COPD, ventilated patients</li>- +<li>
- +<a title="COPD (lung)" href="/articles/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-1">COPD</a>, ventilated patients</li>
-<a href="/articles/pseudopneumatosis">pseudopneumatosis</a>: intraluminal gas trapped between faeces and the bowel wall</li>- +<a href="/articles/pseudopneumatosis">pseudopneumatosis</a>: intraluminal gas trapped between <a title="Faeces" href="/articles/faeces">faeces</a> and the bowel wall</li>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.