A case of recurrent pneumatosis intestinalis

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI), defined as free gas in the bowel wall, is associated with autoimmune conditions, drugs, pulmonary disease and many other etiologies. Patients with findings of PI may have variable clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to acute abdomen necessitating urgent surgery. Here, we present the case of an individual with recurrent PI whose suspected etiologies ultimately varied from benign to lethal between visits. We discuss the clinical management of each case, perform post-hoc application of a proposed treatment algorithm, and highlight areas for future research.