Hepatic portal venous gas due to cryptosporidiosis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Although the presence of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) on computed tomography (CT) is typically an ominous finding, HPVG may sometimes be less catastrophic. The clinical significance of HPVG is variable, and it depends primarily on the underlying pathology. We report a case of a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who was found to have HPVG on CT as a presumed result of gastrointestinal cryptosporidiosis, an association that, to our knowledge, has not been reported. This case illustrates another cause of HPVG that should be considered in patients with AIDS.