Abstract
Pneumatosis coli (PC) is a process characterized by gas-filled cysts in the wall of the large intestine. The barium enema examinations of 14 patients with idiopathic PC were assessed: 93% involved the sigmoid colon, and 84% of patients with sigmoid pneumatosis had sigmoid colon redundancy in comparison to 14% of the control population (p<0.001). It is proposed that the sigmoid cysts result in redundancy by affecting the mesentery and colon length. This redundancy may account for the increased risk of sigmoid volvulus in this condition.
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Moote, D.J., Fried, L.A., LeBrun, G.P. et al. Pneumatosis coli: Is there a relationship with sigmoid colon redundancy?. Gastrointest Radiol 14, 79–82 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01889161
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01889161