NY
A 23-year-old male asked:
Could a hernia in the abdominal be mistaken as fat? the black area? in a ct of abdomem-pelvis w/oral contrast.
3 doctor answers • 14 doctors weighed in
Dr. Prashant Sinhaanswered
General Surgery 20 years experience
Hernias are gaps: Since a hernia itself is a gap in muscle or sometimes in the middle of other tissues fat and other things like intestine can squeeze through this gap. Fat in a hernia defect is not dangerous but can cause pain.Even a small amount of trapped fat can cause pain. This is why ct scans do not always help in diagnosing hernias as there are many areas of naturally occurring fat that are around muscles.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Barry Rosen commented
General Surgery 35 years experience
CT scans can be helpful for diagnosing a hernia but are not perfect. I have examined many people with "hernias" found on CT that actually had lipomas. Conversely, if the defect in the muscle is not seen, a hernia can be mistaken for fat.
May 29, 2012
Dr. Rafael Lugoanswered
General Surgery 29 years experience
No: A hernia is easily detected on ct. It is a defect in the abdominal wall. It may contain fat, but should not be mistaken.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Michael Koronaanswered
Radiology - Interventional 34 years experience
Hernias : May contain peritoneal fat.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Mar 6, 2015
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