Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis Accompanied by Schistosomiasis: A Case Report

Background: Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare disease that occurs frequently in the large and small intestine and has no obvious clinical symptoms. It is difficult to preoperatively diagnose and is easily undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. The main pathological features are air-bearing cysts in the intestinal submucosa, intermuscular wall and subserous membrane. Case presentation: PCI is a rare disease, which often occurs in the large intestine and small intestine，without obvious clinical symptoms. It is difficult to diagnose before operation and is easy to be missed and misdiagnosed. Duvernoi first described the disease in 1730. The main pathological features were air-bearing cysts in intestinal submucosa, intermuscular wall and subserous membrane. Conservative treatment is the first choice when there are no serious complications, and timely surgical treatment is needed for serious and life-threatening complications. This report presents the clinical and pathological analysis of PCI in a 92-year-old man. The patient was admitted to hospital because of acute peritonitis,and was diagnosed as PCI with schistosomiasis after emergency operation. Postoperative follow-up is generally in good condition. Conclusions: : The incidence of PCI is low. Because of a lack of specificity in clinical manifestations and endoscopic findings, PCI is difficult to diagnose preoperatively and is easily missed and misdiagnosed. Conservative treatment is the first choice when there are no serious complications; however, timely surgical treatment is required for serious and life-threatening complications.PCI treatment is effective andconvenient, and the prognosis is optimistic. Therefore, clinicians should increase their awareness of PCI to avoid unnecessary misdiagnosis.