Abstract
We report the case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with pneumatosis intestinalis and pneumomediastinum associated with polymyositis. She was admitted because of muscle weakness and she was diagnosed as polymyositis from muscle biopsy findings.
We administrated corticosteroids (prednisolone 1 mg/kg, 35 mg daily), but her dysphagia progressed due to polymyositis. She needed a temporary feed via nasogastric tube for her dysphagia. In the course of her disease, we inadvertently found intraperitoneal free gas on the abdominal x-ray examination. We performed an abdominal CT immediately, and we found an abnormality, which indicated pneumatosis intestinalis, pneumomediastinum, and pneumoperitoneum with retroperitoneal typical free air. Multiple and widespread emphysematosa disappeared gradually only with bed rest and corticosteroids therapy. Her prednisolone dose was tapered to 12 mg daily, when she was discharged. This case showed very unique complications, which appeared free air in mediastinum and retroperitonium by polymyositis. These complications might relate with polymyositis itself.
