Pseudolipomatosis of the colon and cecum followed by pneumatosis intestinalis

A 74-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with pseudolipomatosis of the cecum and ascending colon. Colonoscopy was performed, which revealed the presence of slightly elevated white lesions, while a magnifying observation showed microbubbles within the mucosa. A month after colonoscopy, the patient was diagnosed with pneumatosis intestinalis. Although the exact pathogenesis is unclear, pneumatosis intestinalis may arise secondary to pseudolipomatosis. This case also indicates that a magnifying observation during colonoscopy may aid in the diagnosis of pseudolipomatosis of the large intestine, since it shows microbubbles within the mucosa, which may be a distinctive feature reflecting the pathology of this disease.