Benign Pneumatosis Intestinalis Research Articles

Clinical and CT features of benign pneumatosis intestinalis in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant and oncology patients

Pneumatosis intestinalis in children is associated with a wide variety of underlying conditions and often has a benign course. The CT features of this condition have not been systematically investigated. Defining benign pneumatosis intestinalis as pneumatosis intestinalis that resolved with medical management alone, we sought to: (1) determine whether the incidence of benign pneumatosis intestinalis had increased at our pediatric cancer hospital; (2) characterize CT features of benign pneumatosis intestinalis; and (3) determine the relationship between imaging features and clinical course of benign pneumatosis intestinalis in this cohort. Radiology reports from November 1994 to December 2006 were searched for "pneumatosis intestinalis," "free intraperitoneal air," and "portal venous air or gas." Corresponding imaging was reviewed by two radiologists who confirmed pneumatosis intestinalis and recorded the presence of extraluminal free air, degree of intramural gaseous distension, number of involved bowel segments, and time to pneumatosis resolution. The search revealed 12 boys and 4 girls with pneumatosis intestinalis; 11 were hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. The annual incidences of benign pneumatosis have not changed at our institution. Increases in intramural distension marginally correlated with the number of bowel segments involved (P=0.08). Three patients had free air and longer times to resolution of pneumatosis (P=0.03). Male children may be at increased risk of benign pneumatosis intestinalis. The incidence of benign pneumatosis at our institution is proportional to the number of hematopoietic stem cell transplants. The degree of intramural distension may correlate with the number of bowel segments involved. Patients with free air have a longer time to resolution of benign pneumatosis.

Gastrointestinal Complications Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children

Gastrointestinal system involvement is one of the principal complications seen in the recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and it is also a major cause of morbidity and death in these patients. The major gastrointestinal complications include typhlitis (neutropenic enterocolitis), pseudomembranous enterocolitis, viral enteritis, graft-versus-host disease, benign pneumatosis intestinalis, intestinal thrombotic microangiopathy, and post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease. As these patients present with nonspecific abdominal symptoms, evaluation with using such imaging modalities as ultrasonography and CT is essential in order to assess the extent of gastrointestinal involvement and to diagnose these complications. We present here a pictorial review of the imaging features and other factors involved in the diagnosis of these gastrointestinal complications in pediatric HSCT recipients.

C-Reactive Protein in the Diagnosis, Management, and Prognosis of Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis

In this prospective, observational study, we determined whether serum C-reactive protein (CRP) correlated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) stages II and III. We hypothesized that serial CRP measurement if used as an adjunct to abdominal radiographs would improve the identification of infants with NEC. Serum CRP level was measured every 12 hours for 3 measurements and, when abnormal, once daily. When clinical signs persisted and the initial abdominal radiographs were abnormal, follow-up radiographs were obtained. Of 241 infants who were evaluated for gastrointestinal signs, 11 had ileus or benign pneumatosis intestinalis with persistently normal CRP; gastrointestinal manifestations resolved within 48 hours, antibiotics were discontinued in <48 hours, and feedings were restarted early without complications. Fifty-five infants had NEC stages II and III; all had abnormal CRP regardless of their blood culture results. In infants with stage II NEC, CRP returned to normal at a mean of 9 days except in those who developed complications such as stricture or abscess formation. In infants with suspected NEC, normal serial CRP values would favor aborted antibiotic therapy and early resumption of feedings. CRP becomes abnormal in both stage II and stage III NEC. In infants with NEC, persistently elevated CRP after initiation of appropriate medical management suggests associated complications, which may require surgical intervention.

Benign pneumatosis intestinalis: a cause of massive pneumoperitoneum in the adult

Pneumatosis intestinalis (gas in the bowel wall) is often a benign condition, but it may mimic bowel ischemia or infarction and lead to unnecessary surgical intervention, especially when associated with pneumoperitoneum. We present a case of benign pneumatosis intestinalis with massive pneumoperitoneum and discuss various distinguishing features that may aid in its diagnosis.

Benign pneumatosis in children.

In pediatrics, pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is usually due to necrotizing enterocolitis in premature newborns. Beyond infancy, PI is uncommon. "Benign pneumatosis" is PI in patients with few or no symptoms that resolves with conservative management. Our goal was to better characterize benign PI in children. Our investigation focused on identifying underlying risk factors, symptoms at time of diagnosis, management and outcome. Available medical records and radiographs of children with pneumatosis intestinalis from 1990 to 1998 were reviewed for underlying conditions, symptoms at time of radiographs, management and outcome. Thirty-seven children (mean age 4 years) were included. Thirty-two children had identifiable risk factors. Twenty-five children were immunocompromised by their underlying conditions or therapeutic regimen. Thirty-five children were managed conservatively with resolution of PI. Two patients, however, required surgery and one patient died. Benign pneumatosis does occur in children. The majority have underlying risk factors, most commonly related to immunosuppression. Clinical deterioration is the most useful indicator for surgical intervention. In most patients PI resolves with conservative management.

Benign pneumatosis intestinalis with subcutaneous emphysema in a liver transplant recipient : R.E. Sachse, G.W. Burke, M. Jonas, et al. Am J Gastroenterol 85:876–879, (July), 1990

Benign pneumatosis intestinalis with subcutaneous emphysema in a liver transplant recipient : R.E. Sachse, G.W. Burke, M. Jonas, et al. Am J Gastroenterol 85:876–879, (July), 1990

Duodenal perforation in childhood dermatomyositis

Perforation of the duodenum is an uncommon, but serious complication which may occur in children with dermatomyositis. In this disease vasculitis may involve the bowel to a variable extent and result in radiologic manifestations of intestinal injury ranging from benign pneumatosis intestinalis to signs of bowel perforation. We report two children with dermatomyositis in whom perforation of the second portion of the duodenum occurred. This serious complication should be considered in any child with dermatomyositis when extraluminal gas is suspected on abdominal radiographs.