Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery
-
Review Case Reports
Soft right chest wall swelling simulating lipoma following motor vehicle accident: transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia. A case report and review of literature.
Intercostal herniation of abdominal contents through a diaphragmatic defect is rare. We report a case of transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia secondary to blunt trauma, initially misdiagnosed as lipoma, later confirmed by CT scan. ⋯ A thorough physical examination may suggest the diagnosis, but confirmation by chest radiograph, CT scan, and sometimes by gastrointestinal contrast studies is often helpful for preoperative planning. A high index of suspicion for diaphragmatic injury or intercostal herniation during the initial evaluation, coupled with chest and abdominal diagnostic testing once the patient is stable, can avert undue delay in diagnosis and catastrophe from incarceration of a hernia.