Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis: A Rare Benign Cause of Pneumoperitoneum

License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is a rare gastrointestinal complication in the course of connective tissue diseases, especially in scleroderma, that can lead to pneumoperitoneum or obstruction. Findings on plain radiography may reveal radiolucent linear or bubbly circular air bubbles in the bowel wall, with or without free gas accumulation in the peritoneal cavity. Treatment of pneumato-sis cystoides intestinalis ranges from supportive care to laparotomy. 1. Background Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare gastroin-testinal complication in the course of connective tissue diseases (CTD), especially in scleroderma. Pneumatosis cys-toides intestinalis was first described byDuVernoi in a cadav-eric dissection in 1783. This complication is characterized by the presence of multiple gas-filled cysts in the submucosa and/or subserosa wall of the intestine [1, 2]. Although this condition is usually asymptomatic and incidentally foun