Elsevier

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 89, Issue 3, September 1976, Pages 456-459
The Journal of Pediatrics

Neonatal pneumatosis coli: A mild form of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(76)80550-1Get rights and content

A distinctive form of necrotizing enterocolitis was observed in seven newborn infants in a 4 1/2-year period. Characteristically these patients had gross blood in the stools, but other local and systemic signs were mild or absent. Radiography mainly revealed submucosal intramural intestinal gas which was limited to the colon (pneumatosis coli). There was no evidence of small bowel involvement as judged by the absence of small intestinal pneumatosis or distension. This form of colonic disease should be recognized as a benign variety of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis that carries a favorable prognosis and responds to medical management without sequelae.

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