Pneumatosis Intestinalis as the Initial Presentation of Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Introduction. Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is an uncommon pathology characterised by the presence of gas within the intestinal wall. It has been associated with various conditions, including connective tissue diseases. This is the first report of PI being the initial presentation of systemic sclero...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/987410 |
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| author | Farshid Ejtehadi Nikolaos A. Chatzizacharias Hugh Kennedy |
| author_facet | Farshid Ejtehadi Nikolaos A. Chatzizacharias Hugh Kennedy |
| author_sort | Farshid Ejtehadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction. Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is an uncommon pathology characterised by the presence of gas within the intestinal wall. It has been associated with various conditions, including connective tissue diseases. This is the first report of PI being the initial presentation of systemic sclerosis. Case Presentation. The patient, a 75-year-old female, presented with an 8-month history of worsening dysphagia and epigastric pain, as well as other nonspecific symptoms. Initial investigations with an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy diagnosed Candida oesophagitis and also identified an extrinsic compression of the gastric antrum. Subsequently a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed moderately dilated small bowel loops and PI. Due to the patient’s stability, non-critical clinical condition, conservative management was instituted. More detailed investigations confirmed the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis with positive anticentromeric and antinuclear antibodies. The patient improved on methotrexate and was discharged with appropriate outpatient follow-up. Discussion. PI is a rare but well-documented pathology associated with connective tissue diseases, such as systemic sclerosis. In most cases, conservative management is preferable to surgical intervention, depending on the patient’s clinical presentation and progress. This is the first report of PI being the initial presentation of a patient with systemic sclerosis responsive to conservative management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-09a06e9d3af84fc38ea98dc718060a5e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9627 1687-9635 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-09a06e9d3af84fc38ea98dc718060a5e2025-02-03T01:20:03ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352012-01-01201210.1155/2012/987410987410Pneumatosis Intestinalis as the Initial Presentation of Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Review of the LiteratureFarshid Ejtehadi0Nikolaos A. Chatzizacharias1Hugh Kennedy2Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke’s University Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UKDepartment of Surgery, Addenbrooke’s University Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UKDepartment of Gastrenterology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norfolk Norwich NR4 7UY, UKIntroduction. Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is an uncommon pathology characterised by the presence of gas within the intestinal wall. It has been associated with various conditions, including connective tissue diseases. This is the first report of PI being the initial presentation of systemic sclerosis. Case Presentation. The patient, a 75-year-old female, presented with an 8-month history of worsening dysphagia and epigastric pain, as well as other nonspecific symptoms. Initial investigations with an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy diagnosed Candida oesophagitis and also identified an extrinsic compression of the gastric antrum. Subsequently a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed moderately dilated small bowel loops and PI. Due to the patient’s stability, non-critical clinical condition, conservative management was instituted. More detailed investigations confirmed the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis with positive anticentromeric and antinuclear antibodies. The patient improved on methotrexate and was discharged with appropriate outpatient follow-up. Discussion. PI is a rare but well-documented pathology associated with connective tissue diseases, such as systemic sclerosis. In most cases, conservative management is preferable to surgical intervention, depending on the patient’s clinical presentation and progress. This is the first report of PI being the initial presentation of a patient with systemic sclerosis responsive to conservative management.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/987410 |
| spellingShingle | Farshid Ejtehadi Nikolaos A. Chatzizacharias Hugh Kennedy Pneumatosis Intestinalis as the Initial Presentation of Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature Case Reports in Medicine |
| title | Pneumatosis Intestinalis as the Initial Presentation of Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_full | Pneumatosis Intestinalis as the Initial Presentation of Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_fullStr | Pneumatosis Intestinalis as the Initial Presentation of Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pneumatosis Intestinalis as the Initial Presentation of Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_short | Pneumatosis Intestinalis as the Initial Presentation of Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_sort | pneumatosis intestinalis as the initial presentation of systemic sclerosis a case report and review of the literature |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/987410 |
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