Case Report: Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis

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In our patient, a repeat CT scan of the abdomen, obtained six months after the initial scan, revealed continued pneumoperitoneum with no new intra-abdominal pathology. She did not report any new abdominal symptoms. These findings suggest the benign nature of this patient’s pneumoperitoneum. The patient was ultimately lost to follow-up.

This case report illustrates the paramount importance of keeping a high index of suspicion for PCI in patients with underlying connective tissue disease presenting with pneumoperitoneum without signs of an acute intra-abdominal process.

Jagmohan S. Jandu, MD, MA, is an internal medicine physician practicing with the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group (PAFMG) at Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF), Fremont, Calif. He practices in an outpatient primary care clinic setting.

Sri Harsha Boppana, MD, is a first-year rheumatology fellow at Larkin Hospital, Miami. He finished his internal medicine residency at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

Prahlad A. Reddy, MD, is a rheumatologist at Arthritis Consultants, Reno, Nev. Dr. Reddy completed his rheumatology fellowship at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Atigadda N. Reddy, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF, is a retired gastroenterologist and adjunct clinical professor of medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

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