Case of the week 7.9.18
Publication Date: 2018-07-09
3 images
Findings
Orthogonal radiographs of the abdomen are available for interpretation.
The serosal detail is normal.
There is gas within the wall of the entire colon. The colon otherwise is not abnormally distended and contains a moderate amount of amorphous soft tissue heterogenous material and gas.
The cecum contains a mild amount of similar appearing heterogenous material. The stomach contains a small amount of nodular soft tissue opacity. The duodenum is normal in diameter and has a fragmented gas pattern. The small intestines are normal in diameter and contain a mixture of gas and soft tissue.
The liver, spleen, kidneys and urinary bladder are normal.
The included musculoskeletal and thoracic structures are normal.
Diagnosis
Pneumatosis coli is of unknown etiology but given the clinical history, colitis is suspected and may be of infectious (i.e. clostridium) and/or inflammatory etiology.
Discussion
The patient was treated medically as well as symptomatically and recovered.
Files