Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Not applicable, Hernia, Education, CT, Gastrointestinal tract, GI Tract, Performed at one institution
Authors:
M. O'Connell, M. Staunton, C. Dewhurst; Cork/IE
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2020/C-09755
Background
A hernia may be defined as an abnormal bulge, protrusion or projection of an organ, or part of an organ, through the wall of a cavity within which it is usually contained. Abdominal wall hernias are commonly encountered in clinical practice, with a prevalence of 4% for individuals aged 45 years and older. They are a common imaging finding in the abdomen and may be complicated by strangulation, incarceration, or trauma. Due to the risk of developing complications, most abdominal wall hernias are surgically repaired, even if asymptomatic.
Computed Tomography (CT) is particularly useful for the evaluation of unrepaired and surgically repaired abdominal wall hernias. Multi-detector row CT provides exquisite anatomic detail of the abdominal wall, thereby allowing accurate identification of wall hernias and their contents, differentiation of hernias from other abdominal masses (tumours, haematomas and abscesses), pre-operative planning with regard to the abdominal wall vasculature and prediction of postoperative complications.