title: [Cystic pneumatosis of the colon. Report of 3 cases and review of the literature].
abstract: Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare entity in which gas is found in cysts located in the intestinal wall. PCI is a sign, not a disease; therefore, its relevance should be interpreted within the whole clinical context. PCI has been found in several distinctive clinical settings, which the authors review in the light of their 3 new cases. Morphologic and endoscopic examinations showed "polypoid" intraluminal formations corresponding to pneumocysts which should not be misdiagnosed with a diffuse polyposis. The most important tasks of the physician include: 1) recognition of the entity of PCI so that patients are not misdiagnosed and mismanaged as having malignancy or polyposis; and 2) differentiation of the benign noncomplicated cases from life-threatening forms (bowel necrosis, perforation, and infections), in which immediate surgery is necessary, and which are associated with high mortality.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Générale et Digestive, Hôpital Bichat-Claude-Bernard, Paris.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kianmanesh Rad
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vilotte
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benhamou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy
vernacular_title: Pneumatose kystique du côlon. Rapport de trois cas et revue de la littérature.