J Comput Assist Tomogr , Volume 33, Number 5, September/October 2009
Masahiro Kitami, MD, PhD, Kei Takase, MD, PhD, Masahiro Tsuboi, MD, PhD,Yuya Rikimaru, MD, PhD, Takashi Hakamatsuka, MD, PhD, Takayuki Yamada, MD, PhD, and Shoki Takahashi, MD, PhD
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether multidimensional computed tomography (MDCT) can be used to differentiate between types of groin hernias, specifically femoral and inguinal hernias, based on their anteroposterior relationship to the inguinal ligament.
Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 75 groin hernias of 71 patients, including 28 femoral and 47 inguinal hernias. We diagnosed hernias prolapsing anterior to the inguinal ligament as in guinal hernias and those passing posterior to the ligament as femoral hernias.
Results: In 74 of 75 cases, femoral and inguinal hernias were correctly differentiated from each other hased on MDCT. In one case of a "sign of aggregation" of an inguinal hernia, the anteroposterior relationship to the inguinal ligament could not be evaluated because the hernia existed superior to the ligament.
Conclusions: Femoral and inguinal hernias that extend caudal to the inguinal ligament can be differentiated based on their anteroposterior relationship to the inguinal ligament using MDCT.