Atypical image of pneumoperitoneum secondary to colon perforation

The case was a 66-year-old female with a diagnosis of bilateral ovarian carcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis and liver metastases. She had only undergone one cycle of chemotherapy and could not be given other cycles because of her poor general condition. She was admitted due to intermittent vomiting for a week and severe heartburn, with the last stool passed two days before, presenting abdominal distension and lower abdominal pain, without signs of peritonism and no peristaltic sounds. After performing several complementary tests a computed tomography scan showed a large amount of intra-abdominal air, which was thought to be a possible transverse colon volvulus, that caused extrinsic compression on the stomach. A colonoscopy was performed in an attempt to devolvulate, which was unsuccessful.