Case Report. Hepatic Portal Venous Gas: Transient Radiographic Finding Associated with Colchicine Toxicity

Hepatic portal venous gas has traditionally been associated with a grave prognosis and high mortality. However, with the advent of ultrasound and CT, numerous less serious causes have been associated with this dramatic radiological finding. We present a previously unreported association with colchicine toxicity. The patient ingested a large dose of colchicine and was subsequently found to have portal venous gas on CT. The source of gas was felt to be intestinal gas penetrating through the demonstrated bowel injury. No surgical intervention was deemed necessary and the finding resolved spontaneously.