Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis simulating malignant colonic obstruction

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is an uncommon condition in which pockets of gas occur intramurally in the gastrointestinal tract. The authors describe the case of a 76-year-old man in whom this condition caused low colonic obstruction, simulating a rectal carcinoma. The patient was successfully treated with high-flow oxygen therapy. This form of therapy has not previously been reported in obstructing lesions, but in this case it successfully relieved the obstruction and thus avoided a colostomy that might have been necessary.