Pneumatosis of the esophagus and intestines with portal venous air: a rare presentation

Figures & data

Table 1. Cases of esophageal pneumatosis reported.

Ref.	Age	Sex	Etiology	Treatment	Follow up
Vanasin et al. [6]	62	f	Esophageal stricture	None	Postmortem diagnosis. Died of aspiration pneumonia
Katz et al. [7]	85	f	Post esophagoscopy	Surgery	Died in 6 weeks
Katz et al. [7]	46	f	Post esophagoscopy	Surgery	Survived
Katz et al. [7]	39	f	Post esophagoscopy	Antibiotics	Survived
McKelvie et al. [8]	76	m	Infection	None	Postmortem diagnosis
Tixedor et al. [9]	74	f	Post pancreato-duodenectomy	Nasogastric aspiration	Survived
Mclaughlin et al. [10]	77	m	Gastric dilatation	100% oxygen	Survived
Yahng et al. [11]	62	f	Chemotherapy and neutropenia	Observation	Died in 5 weeks due to ARDS

Figure 1. Computed tomogram of the abdomen shows gastric pneumatosis and hepatic portal venous gas extending the entire venous tree and to the liver margins. Intramural gas in the stomach.

Figure 2. Computed tomogram of the abdomen revealing intramural gas in the stomach extending to the visualized esophagus. The small bowel is diffusely gas distended, but there is no intramural gas noted.

Figure 3. Computed tomogram of the abdomen showing resolution of gastric pneumatosis as well as abundant stool in the rectum.

Vanasin B, Wright JR, Schuster MM. Pneumatosis cystoides esophagi. Case report supporting theory of submucosal spread. JAMA. 1971;217: 76–77. [PubMed].

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Katz D, Cano R, Antonelle M. Benign air dissection of the esophagus and stomach at fiber esophagoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc. 1972;19: 72–74. [PubMed].

 Google Scholar

McKelvie PA, Fink MA. A fatal case of emphysematous gastritis and esophagitis. Pathology. 1994;26: 490–492. [PubMed].

 PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Tixedor N, Taourel P, Adell JF, et al. Extensive esophageal pneumatosis after acute dilatation of the stomach. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1998;171: 272–273. [PubMed].

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Mclaughlin SA, Nguyen JH. Conservative management of nongangrenous esophageal and gastric pneumatosis. Am Surg. 2007;73: 862–864. [PubMed].

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Yahng SA, Kim HJ. Fortuitous detection of esophageal pneumatosis in a neutropenic patient. Korean J Hematol. 2011;46:151.

 Google Scholar