Pneumatosis intestinalis in childhood leukaemia. Report of a case with gas in the portal vein and review of the literature.

A case of pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) with gas in the portal vein, in an 8-month-old infant with acute lymphatic leukaemia and perforation of the terminal ileum is reported. The 19 previously published cases of PI in pediatric patients with leukaemia are reviewed. The clinical picture and the pathogenetic hypotheses of PI are discussed.