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Pneumatosis
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Pneumatosis

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Pneumatosis

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    • July 26, 2017 at 10:46 am
    Mat
    Participant

      Hi folks, I'm generally doing well and will post a more detailed update.  In the meantime, question–my latest side effect is pneumatosis (gas bubbles in colon wall).  It is asymptomatic, but has been showing up on scans–and increasing–over the past several months.  Has anyone seen this as a side effect of treatment (nivo) or prednisone use?  If so, how has it been treated?  Thanks.

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        • July 27, 2017 at 5:49 pm
        Bubbles
        Participant

          Hey Mat,

          Glad you are doing well!!!  As far as the pneumatosis intestinalis, despite all my watching the data re side effects and immunotherapy (Here's the latest rendition: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2017/07/side-effects-of-immunotherapy-part-9.html )  I have yet to see any mention of it in the literature.  In fact, my only real knowledge of it comes from my years working NICU, where neonates can show PI as a presenting sign of NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis).  I guess it is conceivable that in those of us on immunotherapy it could be a precursor to colitis….but I have NEVER seen it alluded to in the data.  Since you are asymptomatic, your PI is probably the benign condition it most often is in adults.  One you would never know you had if it were not for your repeated scans!!!  Be vigilent, but beyond that I don't have much else to offer.  Glad to hear you are generally well.  Much love, celeste

            • July 28, 2017 at 2:00 pm
            Mat
            Participant

              Thanks Celeste.  Indeed, neither UPenn nor MSK have seen this as a side effect.  I guess it's possible that it's not related.  (I tend to assume that everything is related to melanoma or treatment.)  You're correct that I wouldn't know I had it but for the CT scans.  The concerning thing is that it first appeared early this year and has been increasing.  Waiting to hear back from UPenn.  It sounds like I will have a course of antibiotics.  They are also having a surgeon review the scans (ugh!).

              • July 29, 2017 at 12:48 am
              Bubbles
              Participant

                I don't know what antibiotics would do for you…though a clostridium difficille infection could be a cause…but you are asymptomatic…so…..  Clearly I am not an expert on big people!  However, based on my (yes, neonatal) experience…I would make sure they looked at my chest X-ray to make certain I didn't have a pneumomediastinum or pneumothorax.  An air leak into those areas could put air into the lymph system which could then travel down to the mesenteric lymph system.  And then….voila! Pneumatosis intestinalis!  Your docs have probably thought of all that already…but it came to me in a vision!!!  Hang tough!  Ain't no little air bubbles gonna slow you down!!! c

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