Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy:Usefulness of an endoscopic ultrasonic catheter probe for diagnosis

A 67-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of abdomi nal pain. Barium enema examination and colonoscopy showed numerous round po lypoid lesions covered with normal mucosa in the area from the ascending co lon to the splenic flexure. Endoscopic ultrasound examination with an ultra sonic catheter probe revealed a strong echo with distal acoustic shadowing in the third layer of the diseased colonic wall, which suggested the presen ce of gas in the submucosa. The gaseous cysts disappeared completely after hyberbaric oxygen therapy at 2 to 3 atmospheres absolute (60 minutes, twice a day) for 30 consecutive days.