[Three cases of Chilaiditi's syndrome--hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the colon]

Three cases of Chilaiditi's syndrome are reported. Case 1: A 56-year-old woman was admitted with dysphagia. She had been suffering from progressive systemic sclerosis for 16 years. Three years before the admission, dysphagia developed and dilatation and hypomotility of the esophagus were observed. Chest and abdominal x-ray films on admission showed severe dilatation of the intestine, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, abdominal free air, and Chilaiditi's syndrome. Chilaiditi's syndrome and other signs disappeared after conservative treatment. She died four months later due to cor pulmonale. Case 2: An 87-year-old man was admitted with constipation and left lower abdominal pain. Physical examination showed ascites. Chest and abdominal x-ray examination showed Chilaiditi's syndrome. Cytological examination of ascites revealed adenocarcinoma cells. Diagnosis of peritonitis carcinomatosa due to cancer of pancreatic tail was made. Chilaiditi's syndrome disappeared after removal of ascites. Case 3: A 71-year-old bedridden man who had urinary incontinence developed meterorism. Repeated chest x-ray examinations constantly showed Chilaiditi's syndrome. He died of pneumonia two years later. The pathogenesis of Chilaiditi's syndrome was discussed and the literature was reviewed.