Intraspinal gas associated with intestinal necrosis detected by CT.

We report the case of a 63-year-old woman with necrosis of the small intestine and intraspinal collections of gas, which were detected using computed tomography (CT). Abdominal CT revealed extensive collections of gas in the portal and mesenteric veins and within the intestinal walls. Gas radiolucencies were also noted in the epidural spaces of her spine. This gas was considered to have migrated from the pelvic venous system into the internal venous plexus of the spine. Intestinal necrosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of intraspinal gas collections during CT.