Roentgen diagnosis of intra-abdominal hernia; an evaluation of the roentgen findings.

Internal hernias, i.e., hernias confined within the abdominal cavity, were first described by Hensing (2) in 1742. Later, Treitz established them as a clinical entity (1857). In 1899, Moynihan (5) listed nine fossae in the duodenojejunal region as possible sites for hernia. The incidence of internal hernia is not known, though it does occur more commonly than is generally believed. Watson (7) found 3 examples in 1,600 autopsies, and Mitchell (4) encountered one aperture in the mesentery, a potential hernia, in 400 autopsies. Presumably many go undetected. The possibility of radiologic diagnosis of internal hernia has been neglected by many roentgenologists when making routine gastrointestinal examinations. Clinicians, also, have been remiss in recognizing the associated clinical syndrome and have not referred cases to the rocntgenologist for small bowel studies, with this condition in mind. As a result, many internal hernias are overlooked. There are numerous positive roentgen signs of hernia and similar ...