- Etiology:
— Neonate: Necrotizing enterocolitis
— Older child: High-dose steroid therapy in the setting of bone marrow transplant (benign pneumatosis intestinalis), bowel ischemia - Imaging: Pneumatosis intestinalis is a finding and not a diagnosis so once you see it you need to determine the cause
- Imaging Radiograph:
— Bubbly pneumatosis intestinalis = submucosal gas
— Curvilinear pneumatosis intestinalis = subserosal gas
— Usually in the colon - Imaging US: Sensitive for diagnosis of pneumatosis intestinalis but need systematic evaluation of bowel
- DDX: Air mixed with formed stool – note that newborns do not yet have formed stool
- Complications: Can cause intraperitoneal free air without bowel perforation like popped bubble wrap with outer wall of bubble rupturing but not inner wall
- Treatment:
- Clinical: Not all etiologies cause bowel ischemia
Radiology Cases of Pneumatosis Intestinalis
Radiology Cases of Pneumatosis Intestinalis in Necrotizing Enterocolitis





Radiology Cases of Pneumatosis Intestinalis in Graft Versus Host Disease

Radiology Cases of Pneumatosis Intestinalis in Hyper IgM Syndrome

Radiology Cases of Pneumatosis Intestinalis in Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

Radiology Cases of Pneumatosis Intestinalis in Cystic Fibrosis

Radiology Cases of Pneumatosis Intestinalis of Unknown Etiology



Radiology Cases of Pneumatosis Intestinalis in Meckel Diverticulum Resulting in a Closed Loop Obstruction and Small Bowel Ischemia
