Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in infants: A management dilemma and a literature review

Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum is a rare, benign condition that mimics gastrointestinal perforation on radiographic imaging. Differentiating between medical and surgical pneumoperitoneum is challenging but crucial.We report a case of a 3-month-old boy who presented with massive pneumoperitoneum. The X-...

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Main Authors: Arije Zouaoui, Yasmine Houas, Fatma Thamri, Senda Houidi, Riadh Jouini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Radiology Case Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325004637
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author Arije Zouaoui
Yasmine Houas
Fatma Thamri
Senda Houidi
Riadh Jouini
author_facet Arije Zouaoui
Yasmine Houas
Fatma Thamri
Senda Houidi
Riadh Jouini
author_sort Arije Zouaoui
collection DOAJ
description Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum is a rare, benign condition that mimics gastrointestinal perforation on radiographic imaging. Differentiating between medical and surgical pneumoperitoneum is challenging but crucial.We report a case of a 3-month-old boy who presented with massive pneumoperitoneum. The X-ray showed the pathognomonic “football sign.” Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum was not initially considered, leading to surgical intervention.Spontaneous idiopathic pneumoperitoneum is rare beyond the neonatal period. Awareness of this condition, especially in specific scenarios such as mechanical ventilation or concurrent pneumothorax/pneumomediastinum, should be raised to avoid unnecessary and potentially risky surgery.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1930-0433
language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Radiology Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-e68f902eca954671990462f201af5ad22025-08-20T03:50:22ZengElsevierRadiology Case Reports1930-04332025-09-012094400440310.1016/j.radcr.2025.05.030Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in infants: A management dilemma and a literature reviewArije Zouaoui0Yasmine Houas1Fatma Thamri2Senda Houidi3Riadh Jouini4Pediatric Surgery “A” Department, Tunis El Manar University, Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia; Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, TunisiaPediatric Surgery “A” Department, Tunis El Manar University, Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia; Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia; Corresponding author.Pediatric Surgery “A” Department, Tunis El Manar University, Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia; Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, TunisiaPediatric Surgery “A” Department, Tunis El Manar University, Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia; Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, TunisiaPediatric Surgery “A” Department, Tunis El Manar University, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, TunisiaIdiopathic pneumoperitoneum is a rare, benign condition that mimics gastrointestinal perforation on radiographic imaging. Differentiating between medical and surgical pneumoperitoneum is challenging but crucial.We report a case of a 3-month-old boy who presented with massive pneumoperitoneum. The X-ray showed the pathognomonic “football sign.” Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum was not initially considered, leading to surgical intervention.Spontaneous idiopathic pneumoperitoneum is rare beyond the neonatal period. Awareness of this condition, especially in specific scenarios such as mechanical ventilation or concurrent pneumothorax/pneumomediastinum, should be raised to avoid unnecessary and potentially risky surgery.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325004637InfantPneumoperitoneumSurgery
spellingShingle Arije Zouaoui
Yasmine Houas
Fatma Thamri
Senda Houidi
Riadh Jouini
Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in infants: A management dilemma and a literature review
Radiology Case Reports
Infant
Pneumoperitoneum
Surgery
title Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in infants: A management dilemma and a literature review
title_full Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in infants: A management dilemma and a literature review
title_fullStr Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in infants: A management dilemma and a literature review
title_full_unstemmed Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in infants: A management dilemma and a literature review
title_short Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in infants: A management dilemma and a literature review
title_sort idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in infants a management dilemma and a literature review
topic Infant
Pneumoperitoneum
Surgery
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325004637
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AT sendahouidi idiopathicpneumoperitoneumininfantsamanagementdilemmaandaliteraturereview
AT riadhjouini idiopathicpneumoperitoneumininfantsamanagementdilemmaandaliteraturereview