Fat herniation through the diaphragm
Goebel, N.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 115(35): 1191-1196
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 4048914 Document Number: 248306
In 6 patients a hemispheric epidiaphragmatic shadow was observed in chest X-ray. It was located in the dorsolateral or dorsomedial aspect of the left diaphragm in 4, on the left diaphragmatic cupola in 1, and in the right cardio-phrenic angle in 1. In each case the shadow was caused by herniation of fat through the diaphragm. In one case a hernia of Morgagni was found on thoracotomy. In the other 5 patients the diagnosis of fatty herniation was made by computed tomography, which demonstrated the small diaphragmatic defect as well as the fatty nature of the mass. These 5 patients did not undergo surgery as the herniation caused no symptoms.