[Roentgen diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis in the newborn (author's transl)]

The necrotizing enterocolitis in the newborn is a life threatening disease which is probably induced by stress to the mother or child. Mostly it occurs in the second week of life. After initial non specific symptoms rapid detoriation occurs with distended abdomen, blood diarrhea, bileous vomiting, rapid impairment, septicemia and shock. Careful clinical observation and interpretation of the roentgen signs as intramural gas collection in distended bowel loops (pneumatosis intestinalis) with air fluid levels, gas collection in the portal vein, ascites, free air in the abdomen after viscus perforation can improve the unfavorable prognosis when the correct diagnosis is made and adequate therapy is started in time.