[Colectomy in a patient with pneumatosis coli].

Pneumatosis coli (PC) is a rare condition which may be difficult to diagnose. We report a case of PC in a 46-year-old woman, where colonoscopy and biopsies showed signs of widespread polyposis. She had a prophylactic colectomy. Pathologic examination of the specimen showed multiple air-filled cysts in the colonic wall. By analysis of a preoperative abdominal computed tomography with lung window the cysts could be visualised. This procedure could be a valuable diagnostic tool for excluding PC in patients suspected for polyposis, but with a negative family history of familial adenomatous polyposis.