SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOPERITONEUM WITH PNEUMATOSIS-CYSTOIDES-INTESTINALIS IN A PATIENT WITH MIXED CONNECTIVE-TISSUE DISEASE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 69  (4) , 494-500
Abstract
Pneumatosis cytoides intestinalis (PCI), a disorder in which gas-filled cysts develop within the bowel wall, was associated with collagen vascular disease, usually progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). The spectrum of collagen vascular disease associated with PCI was extended by this report of a patient with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) who developed PCI and recurrent spontaneous pneumoperitoneum (SP). Possible pathogenetic mechanisms are reviewed and the management of the asymptomatic patient with pneumoperitoneum, PCI and collagen vascular disease is discussed.