Hernia: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Hernia

Also written as: herniation, abdominal wall hernia, fat-containing hernia

A hernia is tissue, often fat or a loop of bowel, pushing through a weak spot in the muscle wall that normally holds it in place.

Seen on: CT, Ultrasound, MRI

How it reads in a report

A small fat-containing umbilical hernia is present, with a 1.5 cm neck and no bowel within it.

What it means

The belly and groin are held in by layers of muscle and tough tissue. Where these are weak, fat or bowel can bulge through and form a hernia. Common types are inguinal hernias in the groin, umbilical hernias at the belly button, and incisional hernias at an old surgical scar. The report notes where the hernia is, how wide its opening (the neck) is, and what is inside it.

When it matters

Many hernias, especially small ones holding only fat, cause few problems and are found by chance. Doctors pay more attention when bowel is inside, the opening is narrow, or there is pain. Rarely, bowel gets trapped and loses its blood supply, which causes sudden, severe pain and needs urgent care. Whether and when to repair a hernia is usually decided with a surgeon.

Questions to ask your doctor

What is inside the hernia: only fat, or bowel as well?
How wide is the opening, and is there any sign of trapped bowel?
Does this hernia need a surgeon's opinion, or can it be watched?

General information, not medical advice. What a finding means for you depends on your symptoms, your history and the images themselves, so talk your results through with a doctor.