pneumoperitoneum /no̅o̅′mōper′itənē″əm, -per′itənē″əm/ [Gk, pneuma, air, peri, around, teinein, to stretch] , the presence of air or gas within the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen. It may be spontaneous, such as from rupture of a hollow, gas-containing organ, or induced for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
