       Document 0087
 DOCN  M9620087
 TI    Pneumatosis intestinalis in adults with AIDS: clinical significance and
       imaging findings.
 DT    9602
 AU    Wood BJ; Kumar PN; Cooper C; Silverman PM; Zeman RK; Department of
       Radiology, Georgetown University Medical Center,; Washington, DC 20007,
       USA.
 SO    AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1995 Dec;165(6):1387-90. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/96072683
 AB    OBJECTIVE. The significance of pneumatosis intestinalis in adults with
       AIDS is unknown. Adults with AIDS are predisposed to pneumatosis
       intestinalis. The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical
       significance and to characterize the imaging appearance of this finding
       in patients with AIDS. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In just over 3 years at
       our institution, pneumatosis intestinalis in adults with AIDS was
       detected in six cases. Medical records of those cases were
       retrospectively analyzed for clinical history, laboratory data, and
       surgical and pathologic findings. CT scans and abdominal radiographs
       were analyzed for location and severity of pneumatosis, presence of
       portal venous gas, pneumoperitoneum, and cystic versus linear gas.
       RESULTS. Five of the six patients with AIDS-associated pneumatosis
       intestinalis were managed conservatively or medically without surgical
       procedures and were discharged from the hospital with resolved or
       decreasing gastrointestinal complaints. The other patient underwent an
       exploratory laparotomy because of free intraperitoneal and
       retroperitoneal air; however, no bowel perforation was found at surgery.
       CONCLUSION. Pneumatosis intestinalis is a late-stage phenomenon in adult
       patients with AIDS that characteristically involves the cecum or right
       colon. Pneumatosis in patients with AIDS may be an indolent abnormality
       and does not necessarily constitute a surgical emergency or a sign of
       impending bowel necrosis.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS/*RADIOGRAPHY  Adult
       Cecum/RADIOGRAPHY  Colon/RADIOGRAPHY  Diarrhea/ETIOLOGY/RADIOGRAPHY
       Human  *HIV-1  Male  Pneumatosis Cystoides
       Intestinalis/ETIOLOGY/*RADIOGRAPHY  Retrospective Studies  Tomography,
       X-Ray Computed  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

