Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

MDCT of abdominal wall lumbar hernias: anatomical review, pathologic findings and differential diagnosis

  • Anatomic Bases of Medical, Radiological and Surgical Techniques
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To review the anatomical landmarks of the abdominal wall lumbar region and its normal appearance on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and to briefly describe the MDCT features of lumbar hernias.

Methods

We performed a retrospective search of the imaging report database from November 2007 to October 2011. We retrieved the clinical data and MDCT studies of patients suffering from abdominal wall lumbar hernias. We reviewed the imaging features of abdominal lumbar hernias and compared those with the normal appearance of the lumbar region in asymptomatic individuals.

Results

We classified lumbar wall hernias as diffuse, superior (or Grynfelt–Lesshaft) and inferior (or Petit) lumbar hernias. We briefly describe the imaging features of each subtype and review the anatomy and MDCT appearance of normal lumbar region.

Conclusions

Currently available MDCT provides an excellent opportunity for reviewing the normal anatomy of the wall lumbar region and may be considered a useful modality for evaluating lumbar hernias.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aguirre DA, Casola G, Sirlin C (2004) Abdominal wall hernias: MDCT findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol 183(3):681–690

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Aguirre DA, Santosa AC, Casola G, Sirlin CB (2005) Abdominal wall hernias: imaging features, complications, and diagnostic pitfalls at multi-detector row CT. Radiographics 25(6):1501–1520

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Armstrong O, Hamel A, Grignon B, N’Doye JM, Hamel O, Robert R, Rogez JM ((2008)) Lumbar hernia: anatomical basis and clinical aspects. Surg Radiol Anat 30:533–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Baker ME, Weinerth JL, Andriani RT, Cohan RH, Dunnick NR (1987) Lumbar hernia: diagnosis by CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 148:565–567

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Faro SH, Racette CD, Lally JF, Wills JS, Mansory A (1990) Traumatic lumbar hernia: CT diagnosis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 154:757–759

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Guillem P, Czarnecki E, Duval G (2002) Lumbar hernia: anatomical route assessed by computed tomography. Surg Radiol Anat 24:53–56

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Horovitz IL, Schwarz HA, Deham A (1986) A lumbar hernia presenting as an obstructing lesion of the colon. Dis Colon Rectum 29:742–744

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Jankovic ZB, du Feu FM, McConnell P (2009) An anatomical study of the transversus abdominis plane block: location of the lumbar triangle of Petit and adjacent nerves. Anesth Analg 109(3):981–985

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Killeen KL, Girard S, DeMeo JH, Shanmuganathan K, Mirvis SE (2000) Using CT to diagnose traumatic lumbar hernias. AJR Am J Roentgenol 174:1413–1415

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Moreno-Egea A, Baena EG, Calle MC, Martínez JA, Albasini JL (2007) Controversies in the current management of lumbar hernias. Arch Surg 1:82–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Presti JC, Narayan P (1988) Lumbar herniation of the kidney. J Urol 140:586–587

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Soto Delgado M, Garcia MA, Velasco M, Pedrero MG (2002) Lumbar eventration as complication of the lumbotomy in the flank: review of our series. Actas Urol Esp 26:345–350

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Sutherland RS, Gerow RR (1995) Hernia after dorsal incision into lumbar region: a case report and review of pathogenesis and treatment. J Urol 153(2):382–384

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Swartz WT (1978) Lumbar hernia. In: Nyhus LM, Condon RE (eds) hernia, 2nd edn. Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 409–426

    Google Scholar 

  15. Thompson NS, Date R, Charlwood AP, Adair IV, Clements WD (2001) Seat-belt syndrome revisited. Int J Clin Pract 55(8):573–575

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Yurcisin BM, Myers CJ, Stahlfeld KR, Means JR (2010) Laparoscopic hernia repair following iliac crest harvest. Hernia 14(1):93–96

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Hospital Reina Sofía, Ctra Tarazona km 3, 31500, Tudela, Navarra, Spain

    Joaquín Martín, José María Mellado, Susana Solanas, Nerea Yanguas, Javier Salceda & María Rosa Cozcolluela

Authors
  1. Joaquín Martín
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José María Mellado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Susana Solanas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nerea Yanguas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Javier Salceda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. María Rosa Cozcolluela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joaquín Martín.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Martín, J., Mellado, J.M., Solanas, S. et al. MDCT of abdominal wall lumbar hernias: anatomical review, pathologic findings and differential diagnosis. Surg Radiol Anat 34, 455–463 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-012-0937-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-012-0937-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation