title: [Pneumatosis intestinalis in 9 children with an oncologic disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To acquire knowledge regarding the rare condition pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) in children treated for malignant disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1998-1999 PI was diagnosed in 9 of the 140 children with malignant disease in the department of Paediatric Oncology of the UMC St Radboud, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. By examination of the records of these 9 children, data were collected on the symptomatology, diagnostics, treatment and prognosis of PI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 9 children included 7 boys and 2 girls, varying in age from 2 to 12 years. In 7 patients the underlying disease was acute lymphocytic leukaemia and in 2 it was a stage IV neuroblastoma. The presenting symptoms were nonspecific and included: a distended abdomen, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation. In all children, PI was located in the colon. Supplemental blood and microbiological analysis did not reveal any typical abnormalities. 8 children were treated with lactitol because of constipation. A laparotomy was performed in the first patient, while the other 8 were treated with gastric suctioning, parenteral nutrition and antibiotics. All 9 children recovered within a few weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With supportive care, PI in children with malignant disease is mostly a self-limiting condition. A pneumoperitoneum in PI is no indication for surgery, except in the presence of an acute abdomen. Chemotherapy can be continued.
authors.affiliation: Afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, Postbus 910o, 6500 HB Nijmegen. h.kyrieleis@cukz.umcn.nl
authors.forename: H A C
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kyrieleis
authors.forename: M E F
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wilsterman
authors.forename: R S V M
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Severijnen
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: van Die
authors.forename: G P A
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Bongaerts
authors.forename: C E M
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Gidding
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents