Pneumatosis intestinalis in patients with ischemia: correlation of CT findings with viability of the bowel.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to reassess the CT finding of pneumatosis in intestinal ischemia to determine whether it indicates transmural necrosis versus partial mural ischemia and also to determine whether other CT findings can be used to predict which patients with pneumatosis are likely to have viable bowel.

Conclusion: The CT finding of pneumatosis does not always indicate transmural infarction of the bowel in intestinal ischemia. Patients with associated portomesenteric venous gas are more likely to have transmural infarction than those with pneumatosis alone.