Pneumatosis coli: is there a relationship with sigmoid colon redundancy?

Pneumatosis coli (PC) is a process characterized by gas-filled cysts in the wall of the large intestine. The barium enema examinations of 14 patients with idiopathic PC were assessed: 93% involved the sigmoid colon, and 84% of patients with sigmoid pneumatosis had sigmoid colon redundancy in comparison to 14% of the control population (p less than 0.001). It is proposed that the sigmoid cysts result in redundancy by affecting the mesentery and colon length. This redundancy may account for the increased risk of sigmoid volvulus in this condition.