Ultraschall Med 2016; 37 - SL13_6
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1587775

Value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of inguinal hernia – a retrospective study

T Maisenbacher 1, T Kaltenbach 1, M Hänle 1, T Seufferlein 1, T Gräter 2, D Henne-Bruns 3, A Formentini 3, W Kratzer 1
  • 1Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Klinik für Innere Medizin I, Ulm, Germany
  • 2Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Ulm, Germany
  • 3Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Klinik für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie, Ulm, Germany

Purpose: Diagnostic imaging of inguinal hernia has a high priority. Nevertheless, the ultrasound is not listed in the most recent guidelines of the European Hernia Society as a routine procedure. Aim of the study was to investigate in a retrospective cohort the importance of ultrasound diagnostic of hernias.

Materials & Methods: Ultrasound findings, patient data and surgical reports of patients with sonographic documentation of inguinal hernia from April 2006 to March 2016 were collected and analysed.

Results: In the period 2006 – 2016 hernias were diagnosed in 321 patients, 82.6% were male. The average age of patients with a positive result was 56.5 ± 17.9 years.

Conclusions: Ultrasonography has a high status in the routine diagnosis of inguinal hernia. The high value of sonography with little false-positive results will be presented.