A pneumoperitoneum due to intestinal cystic pneumatosis associated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Abstract

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is characterized by multiple air-filled cysts in the intestine wall. A perforation causes pneumoperitoneum, frequently with minimal clinical affectation and do not require surgery at first in most cases. Recently, some cancer treatments, mainly molecular targeted therapy, have been associated with this complication. For this reason, radiologic findings of intestinal pneumatosis and/or secondary perforation during patient follow-up should be carefully interpreted. The clinical-analytical findings should always be considered. We report a case associated with the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in order to illustrate this point.