title: Imaging assessment and clinical significance of pneumatosis in adult patients.
abstract: Gas detection in the bowel wall and in portomesenteric venous vessels in adults has long been related to intestinal infarction and poor outcome; many case reports have shown that pneumatosis may be associated with a large variety of pathological situations, ranging from absolutely benign and asymptomatic forms to abdominal catastrophes. Several studies have been conducted on this topic with different conclusions, probably due to differences in population so that the clinical value of these signs is still questioned. Intestinal pneumatosis, especially if presenting with a band-like pattern and if associated with portomesenteric vein gas, when observed in an acute abdominal setting should raise the suspicion of mesenteric infarct and prompt a careful search for other signs of intestinal involvement, so as not to miss cases of life-threatening intestinal infarct or allow them to further evolve into extensive necrosis with worse prognosis. In this review we illustrate the most relevant aspects of these debated but significant radiological signs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Monaldi Hospital, via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Naples, Italy, f.lassandro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lassandro
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lassandro
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Golia
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunese
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laghi
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008643:Mesentery / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media