Inguinal Hernia Imaging Studies

Recurrent hernia or possible hydrocele.

Inguinal hernia imaging studies. Surgical repair remains the mainstay of therapy although watchful waiting is reasonable in adults with minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic inguinal hernia. Although imaging is rarely needed to diagnose a hernia it may be useful in certain clinical situations e g suspected sports hernia. Often it gets worse throughout the day and improves when lying down. A hernia protruding through the abdominal wall via the deep inguinal ring and passes down the inguinal canal lateral to the inferior epigastric artery.

Your doctor might order an imaging test such as an abdominal ultrasound ct scan or mri. An inguinal hernia will lie just anterior and sometimes medial but the location can be somewhat variable. Laboratory studies are not specific for hernia but may be useful for general medical evaluation. The 47 patient symptomatic study group included 41 patients with direct inguinal hernias 1 with indirect inguinal hernia and 5 with negative ultrasound.

Remember that there are other types of hernias including prevascular which occur anterior to the femoral vein and spigelian which penetrate between muscles and therefore do not have focal swelling. A direct inguinal hernia occurs when the peritoneal sac and its content pushes indirectly down into the inguinal canal through a weakening or hole in the pelvic floor which would otherwise normally not be there. Imaging studies are not required in the normal workup of a hernia 7 8. Of 42 patients with hernia 39 significantly improved with herniorrhaphy 2 failed to improve after surgery and were diagnosed with adductor longus tears and 1 improved with physical therapy.

Imaging may be helpful where there is doubt about diagnosis but also identifies many clinically insignificant apparent hernias. This may include pain or discomfort especially with coughing exercise or bowel movements. In male patients follow the spermatic cord spermatic cord. Symptoms are present in about 66 of affected people.

Diagnosis is usually clinical. A physical exam is usually all that s needed to diagnose an inguinal hernia. However radiography computed tomography ct or ultrasonography may be considered in certain circumstances sigmoidoscopy is no longer recommended as a screening test. High resolution transducer minimum 7 12 mhz modern high end ultrasound machine.

Explore mayo clinic studies testing new treatments interventions and tests as a means to prevent. There is a recognized male predilection with an m f ratio of up to 7 1 3. Epidemiology they are the commonest type of abdominal wall herniation up to 80 3 and are most often acquired. Inguinal hernia is a type of abdominal wall hernia 1.