Francesco Lassandro, MD, Department of Radiology, Monaldi Hospital, Naples 80131, Italy. f.lassandro@gmail.com
Article-Type of This Article
Review
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World J Gastrointest Endosc. Jun 16, 2011; 3(6): 110-117 Published online Jun 16, 2011. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v3.i6.110
Abdominal hernias: Radiological features
Francesco Lassandro, Francesca Iasiello, Nunzia Luisa Pizza, Tullio Valente, Maria Luisa Mangoni di Santo Stefano, Roberto Grassi, Roberto Muto
Francesco Lassandro, Tullio Valente, Roberto Muto, Department of Radiology, Monaldi Hospital, Naples 80131, Italy
Francesca Iasiello, Nunzia Luisa Pizza, Roberto Grassi, Department of Radiology - Second University of Naples, Naples 80100, Italy
Maria Luisa Mangoni di Santo Stefano, Department of Radiology, Nola General Hospital, Naples 80035, Italy
Author contributions: Guarantors of integrity of the entire study: Lassandro F, Valente T, Muto R; Study concepts/ design, data acquisition/analysis/interpretation: Lassandro F, Iasiello F, Pizza NL, Stefano MLMS, Grassi R; Manuscript drafting and revision for important intellectual content: Lassandro F, Valente T, Grassi R, Muto R; Approval of final version of submitted manuscript: all authors; literature research: Lassandro F, Iasiello F, Muto R; and manuscript editing Lassandro F, Iasiello F, Pizza NL, Valente T.
Correspondence to: Francesco Lassandro, MD, Department of Radiology, Monaldi Hospital, Naples 80131, Italy. f.lassandro@gmail.com
Telephone: +39-081-5786114 Fax: +39-081-5786114
Received: January 15, 2011 Revised: May 2, 2011 Accepted: May 16, 2011 Published online: June 16, 2011
Abstract
Abdominal wall hernias are common diseases of the abdomen with a global incidence approximately 4%-5%. They are distinguished in external, diaphragmatic and internal hernias on the basis of their localisation. Groin hernias are the most common with a prevalence of 75%, followed by femoral (15%) and umbilical (8%). There is a higher prevalence in males (M:F, 8:1). Diagnosis is usually made on physical examination. However, clinical diagnosis may be difficult, especially in patients with obesity, pain or abdominal wall scarring. In these cases, abdominal imaging may be the first clue to the correct diagnosis and to confirm suspected complications. Different imaging modalities are used: conventional radiographs or barium studies, ultrasonography and Computed Tomography. Imaging modalities can aid in the differential diagnosis of palpable abdominal wall masses and can help to define hernial contents such as fatty tissue, bowel, other organs or fluid. This work focuses on the main radiological findings of abdominal herniations.
