A rare case of pneumobilia following blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare condition characterized by gas-filled cysts within the gastrointestinal wall, often discovered incidentally or presenting with abdominal pain and pneumoperitoneum. Pneumobilia following blunt trauma is an even rarer finding, typically associated wit...

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Main Authors: Leila Haddar, Karim Haddar, Asmae Kasimi, Rabilou Saley, Leknani Mohammed, Hamid Ziani, Siham Nasri, Imane Kamaoui, Imane Skiker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Radiology Case Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325003334
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author Leila Haddar
Karim Haddar
Asmae Kasimi
Rabilou Saley
Leknani Mohammed
Hamid Ziani
Siham Nasri
Imane Kamaoui
Imane Skiker
author_facet Leila Haddar
Karim Haddar
Asmae Kasimi
Rabilou Saley
Leknani Mohammed
Hamid Ziani
Siham Nasri
Imane Kamaoui
Imane Skiker
author_sort Leila Haddar
collection DOAJ
description Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare condition characterized by gas-filled cysts within the gastrointestinal wall, often discovered incidentally or presenting with abdominal pain and pneumoperitoneum. Pneumobilia following blunt trauma is an even rarer finding, typically associated with increased intra-abdominal pressure. We report the case of a 46-year-old male with no significant medical history who sustained a 5-meter fall. The CT scan revealed pneumobilia, pneumoperitoneum, and areas of pneumatosis intestinalis in the small intestine, suggesting PCI with cyst rupture and retrograde air passage into the biliary ducts. The patient was managed conservatively with close monitoring, and symptoms resolved completely within 5 days. This case highlights the importance of distinguishing PCI from life-threatening conditions such as bowel ischemia to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions, emphasizing the role of imaging in guiding appropriate management.
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publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Radiology Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-9341283ac6d6426fa769411b2c323bb72025-08-20T02:05:09ZengElsevierRadiology Case Reports1930-04332025-08-012083680368310.1016/j.radcr.2025.04.035A rare case of pneumobilia following blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalisLeila Haddar0Karim Haddar1Asmae Kasimi2Rabilou Saley3Leknani Mohammed4Hamid Ziani5Siham Nasri6Imane Kamaoui7Imane Skiker8Corresponding author.; Department of Radiology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed First, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Radiology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed First, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Radiology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed First, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Radiology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed First, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Radiology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed First, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Radiology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed First, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Radiology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed First, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Radiology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed First, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Radiology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed First, Oujda, MoroccoPneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare condition characterized by gas-filled cysts within the gastrointestinal wall, often discovered incidentally or presenting with abdominal pain and pneumoperitoneum. Pneumobilia following blunt trauma is an even rarer finding, typically associated with increased intra-abdominal pressure. We report the case of a 46-year-old male with no significant medical history who sustained a 5-meter fall. The CT scan revealed pneumobilia, pneumoperitoneum, and areas of pneumatosis intestinalis in the small intestine, suggesting PCI with cyst rupture and retrograde air passage into the biliary ducts. The patient was managed conservatively with close monitoring, and symptoms resolved completely within 5 days. This case highlights the importance of distinguishing PCI from life-threatening conditions such as bowel ischemia to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions, emphasizing the role of imaging in guiding appropriate management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325003334PneumobiliaPneumatosis cystoides intestinalisPCITraumaPneumoritoneumCase report
spellingShingle Leila Haddar
Karim Haddar
Asmae Kasimi
Rabilou Saley
Leknani Mohammed
Hamid Ziani
Siham Nasri
Imane Kamaoui
Imane Skiker
A rare case of pneumobilia following blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
Radiology Case Reports
Pneumobilia
Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
PCI
Trauma
Pneumoritoneum
Case report
title A rare case of pneumobilia following blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
title_full A rare case of pneumobilia following blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
title_fullStr A rare case of pneumobilia following blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
title_full_unstemmed A rare case of pneumobilia following blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
title_short A rare case of pneumobilia following blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
title_sort rare case of pneumobilia following blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
topic Pneumobilia
Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
PCI
Trauma
Pneumoritoneum
Case report
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325003334
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