Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: A rare cause of nonsurgical pneumoperitoneum in an infant

The authors describe a 3-year-old boy with pneumatosis cystoides intestinal is (PCI) and associated duodenal stenosis who came to them with abdominal p ain, significant abdominal distension, large gastric residue, and pneumoper itoneum. PCI is a rare condition in children characterized by the presence of multiple gas-filled cysts within the wall of some part of gastrointestin al tract that may break and cause pneumoperitoneum without an intestinal pe rforation. Even if in most cases the standard treatment is surgical, to kee p in mind this rare condition could be useful to adopt a most rational trea tment approach and avoid unnecessary operation in case of "benign" pneumope ritoneum. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.