Intraspinal gas - CT findings in two cases

Gas penetrating the spinal canal (pneumorachis) is rare. We describe two cases of instraspinal air. The first patient presented with trauma from a fall and contused emphysema of the dorsolumbar soft tissues. This is the first report of traumatic pneumorachis with this type of pathogenesis. The second patient had undergone ileal resection for enteroperitoneal lymphoma in which intraspinal gas was caused by a difficulty in administering peridural anaesthesia. The different causes and mechanisms of gas formation and its clinical significance are discussed. CT scan is a highly accurate means of documenting gas in an unusual location and identifying the exact site.