Presentation
Work up for chronic constipation.
Patient Data
Age: 55 years
Gender: Male
From the case:
Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
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Innumerable intramural gas bubbles are seen in the wall of the small bowel loops.
Intraperitoneal gas bubbles are also observed.
Diastasis recti is present up to 8 cm.
The prostate gland is enlarged.
A small amount of free fluid is present in the pelvis.
Case Discussion
Features on CT images are consistent with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, a subtype of pneumatosis, characterized by the presence of multiple gas bubbles in the submucosa and/or subserosa of the small intestine wall.
It is essential not to confuse the incidental imaging finding of asymptomatic pneumatosis with symptomatic bowel perforation because the treatment is significantly different.