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Updated: May 17, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
[Atypical appearance of pneumatosis intestinalis at multidetector CT]
Valentina Lorusso1, Antonio Amato Stabile Ianora, Giuseppe Rubini
1Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Universita Aldo Moro.
Abstract:
Pneumatosis intestinalis may be caused by bowel ischemia and may display different patterns of appearance. We report a case of pneumatosis intestinalis with an atypical target pattern, detected by multidetector computed tomography (CT) in a 66-year-old male presenting with acute abdominal syndrome. Abdominal CT scan showed a double gas collection within the wall of a jejunal segment, with a characteristic target air distribution. The patient was surgically treated and successfully discharged from our hospital with the diagnosis of acute bowel ischemia. The target air sign can be an initial CT finding of the typical pneumatosis intestinalis and it can be useful in the early diagnosis of bowel ischemia.
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