2023 ARRS ANNUAL MEETING - ABSTRACTS

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E1201. Choose Your Own Adventure: Abdominal Hernias
Authors
  1. Randy Chang; Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
  2. Soni Chawla; Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
Background
Abdominal hernias describe protrusions of intra-abdominal tissues through a defect or weakness in the abdominal cavity wall. The entity can be classified into external, internal, and diaphragmatic types. Hernia sac contents most often include mesenteric fat, small bowel loops, or mobile colonic segments, but can involve any intra-abdominal tissue. Abdominal hernias are often discovered incidentally and are asymptomatic, but patients may present with a palpable mass or other symptoms based on the involved tissue. Complications can result in gastrointestinal obstruction, incarceration, or strangulation. In infants, diaphragmatic hernias can restrict proper lung development, leading to pulmonary hypoplasia. Imaging provides important diagnostic information and helps to determine the appropriate management. This exhibit will give an overview of the different types of abdominal hernias. Using a multimodal imaging approach, the exhibit will also present multiple examples of abdominal hernias, including those with associated imaging complications, to better help radiologists identify these entities in clinical practice.

Educational Goals / Teaching Points
This educational exhibit will provide examples of abdominal hernias. Using a multimodal imaging approach, it will present multiple cases that illustrate the key imaging findings of the entity, including those with associated imaging complications, such as gastrointestinal obstruction and trauma. A brief overview of the different types of abdominal hernias and the appropriate management for associated complications will also be included.

Key Anatomic/Physiologic Issues and Imaging Findings/Techniques
It is important for the radiologist to be familiar with the different types of abdominal hernias, including the radiologic manifestations of their complications, so that timely diagnostic workup and management can be initiated. The imaging findings of this entity include a wall defect that can be located in several classic places throughout the abdominal cavity, protrusion of intra-abdominal contents through the defect, as well as complications related to the hernia.

Conclusion
The diagnosis of abdominal hernias, including external, internal, and diaphragmatic types, is challenging. Review of the common imaging findings of abdominal hernias using multiple modalities while understanding the corresponding appropriate management of related complications can significantly help the physician to better treat patients.