Value of digital fluoroscopy for the diagnosis of pneumatosis coli

Two cases are presented of benign pneumatosis coli diagnosed on digital fluoroscopic barium enema examinations, in which the gas-filled cysts in the colonic wall were only recognized by postprocessing of the images (i.e. increasing the brightness and contrast settings) at the computer workstation. When digital barium enemas are performed, we therefore recommend image postprocessing to evaluate polypoid lesions in order to differentiate pneumatosis coli from true colonic neoplasms.