Pneumatosis Coli Mimicking Colorectal Cancer

Pneumatosis coli (PC) is a rare condition of the gastrointestinal tract involving extraluminal gas confined within the bowel wall. We report the case of a 40-year-old gentleman presenting clinically and endoscopically with suspected colorectal cancer. In light of the patient’s red flag symptoms, and...

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Main Authors: Teresa Jacob, Mohammad Paracha, Marta Penna, Dhili Arul, Jonathan Wilson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2014-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Surgery
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/428989
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spelling doaj-c4a55cb2d71148b4b9f1f48e53f11d862020-11-24T23:46:03ZengHindawi LimitedCase Reports in Surgery2090-69002090-69192014-01-01201410.1155/2014/428989428989Pneumatosis Coli Mimicking Colorectal CancerTeresa Jacob0Mohammad Paracha1Marta Penna2Dhili Arul3Jonathan Wilson4Department of General Surgery, Whittington Health, Magdala Avenue, London N19 5NF, UKDepartment of General Surgery, Whittington Health, Magdala Avenue, London N19 5NF, UKDepartment of General Surgery, Whittington Health, Magdala Avenue, London N19 5NF, UKDepartment of General Surgery, Whittington Health, Magdala Avenue, London N19 5NF, UKDepartment of General Surgery, Whittington Health, Magdala Avenue, London N19 5NF, UKPneumatosis coli (PC) is a rare condition of the gastrointestinal tract involving extraluminal gas confined within the bowel wall. We report the case of a 40-year-old gentleman presenting clinically and endoscopically with suspected colorectal cancer. In light of the patient’s red flag symptoms, and carpet of polyps seen endoscopically, surgical management by an anterior resection was performed with the patient making a successful recovery. Histological analysis of the resected specimen confirmed pneumatosis coli with no evidence of colonic neoplasia. Although PC can be an incidental finding in asymptomatic patients and considered a benign condition, it can also present as a life-threatening emergency with bowel necrosis and obstruction requiring emergency surgical intervention. Also, when PC mimics malignancy, surgical management is the most appropriate step to ensure that the diagnosis of cancer is not missed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/428989
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Teresa Jacob
Mohammad Paracha
Marta Penna
Dhili Arul
Jonathan Wilson
spellingShingle Teresa Jacob
Mohammad Paracha
Marta Penna
Dhili Arul
Jonathan Wilson
Pneumatosis Coli Mimicking Colorectal Cancer
Case Reports in Surgery
author_facet Teresa Jacob
Mohammad Paracha
Marta Penna
Dhili Arul
Jonathan Wilson
author_sort Teresa Jacob
title Pneumatosis Coli Mimicking Colorectal Cancer
title_short Pneumatosis Coli Mimicking Colorectal Cancer
title_full Pneumatosis Coli Mimicking Colorectal Cancer
title_fullStr Pneumatosis Coli Mimicking Colorectal Cancer
title_full_unstemmed Pneumatosis Coli Mimicking Colorectal Cancer
title_sort pneumatosis coli mimicking colorectal cancer
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Case Reports in Surgery
issn 2090-6900
2090-6919
publishDate 2014-01-01
description Pneumatosis coli (PC) is a rare condition of the gastrointestinal tract involving extraluminal gas confined within the bowel wall. We report the case of a 40-year-old gentleman presenting clinically and endoscopically with suspected colorectal cancer. In light of the patient’s red flag symptoms, and carpet of polyps seen endoscopically, surgical management by an anterior resection was performed with the patient making a successful recovery. Histological analysis of the resected specimen confirmed pneumatosis coli with no evidence of colonic neoplasia. Although PC can be an incidental finding in asymptomatic patients and considered a benign condition, it can also present as a life-threatening emergency with bowel necrosis and obstruction requiring emergency surgical intervention. Also, when PC mimics malignancy, surgical management is the most appropriate step to ensure that the diagnosis of cancer is not missed.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/428989
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AT mohammadparacha pneumatosiscolimimickingcolorectalcancer
AT martapenna pneumatosiscolimimickingcolorectalcancer
AT dhiliarul pneumatosiscolimimickingcolorectalcancer
AT jonathanwilson pneumatosiscolimimickingcolorectalcancer
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