Pneumatosis coli: case report documenting time from X-ray appearance to onset of symptoms

Pneumatosis coli was diagnosed in a 66-year-old atopic woman with a 6-month history of chronic cough and intermittent wheeze. A sequence of chest x-rays demonstrated the appearance of gas-filled cysts in the splenic flexure of the colon approximately 2 months before the development of bowel symptoms. The pneumatosis coli and symptoms disappeared in 6 days with the administration of oxygen at a flow rate of 6 liters/min by nasal prongs. The case demonstrates the slow progression of the condition from x-ray recognition to development of symptoms and the simple, effective treatment of the condition with nasal oxygen.