Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis - Case report and review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare, usually benign conditio n characterised by multiple gas-filled cysts within the submucosa or subser osa of the bowel wall. It may involve any segment of he gastrointestinal tr act and can mainly be found in the small or large bowel. The etiology; of P CI remains unknown. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman with symptomati c PCI of the left colon, that had been misdiagnosed for more than two month s After diagnosis she had been treated with oxygen therapy applied by mask and oral therapy with metronidazol. Although clinical symptoms resolved wit hin the first 48 hours, some cysts persisted after a treatment period of tw o weeks. The therapy with oxygen and metronidazol was repeated two months l ater After this course of treatment all cysts had disappeared and the patie nt remains free of disease. A comprehensive survey of epidemiology, symptom s, diagnosis, etiology and therapy of PCI will be presented.