Gastric pneumatosis and portal vein gas: incidental findings at helical CT after blunt abdominal trauma

Gastric pneumatosis is a rare form of intestinal pneumatosis related to a wide range of abnormalities, which by itself may not engender adverse consequences. Portal vein gas, on the other hand, has traditionally been regarded as a life-threatening condition associated with mesenteric ischemia and immediate surgery; however, recent observations have demonstrated a greater spectrum of etiologies associated with portal vein gas in which the prognosis seems to be more favorable and surgery is not necessary. We report the case of a 42-year-old man who developed gastric pneumatosis and portal vein gas after major abdominal trauma. The patient was conservatively treated. Follow-up CT performed 4 days later revealed that portal vein gas and gastric pneumatosis had resolved spontaneously.