Pneumoperitoneum without peritonitis.

We present our experience with 5 patients, all of whom were noted to have radiological signs of pneumoperitoneum in the absence of clinical features of peritonitis. All 5 cases were eventually shown to be due to causes not requiring surgery. We review the numerous unusual causes of pneumoperitoneum which do not require urgent surgical intervention and emphasize their importance in cases where the absence of signs of peritonitis may cause diagnostic difficulty.