ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the imaging appearances and the value of multi-slice CT (MSCT)with post-processing tech-niques in diagnosis and treatment of lumbar hernia (LH).Methods The imaging and clinical data of 1 6 patients with LH which were confirmed by surgery were analyzed retrospectively.Results In 1 6 patients,1 7 lesions of LH were revealed by MSCT.There were superior lumbar hernias in 13 (76.5%),inferior lumbar hernias in 3 (1 7.6%)and diffuse lumbar hernia in 1 (5.9%).Hernia ring in diameter ranged from 1.5 to 9.3 cm,and the hernia sac size ranged from 1.8 cm×2.4 cm to 1 1.3 cm× 6.2 cm.MSCT showed oval or flask shaped mass of extraperitioneal fat with or without peritoneum and visceral contents protruded through the de-fecting fascia floor into lumbar triangle.Superior lumbar hernia was bounded by the 12th rib superiorly,the erector spine muscle medially and the internal oblique muscle laterally.Inferior lumbar hernia was bounded by latissimus dorsi muscle medially,the ex-ternal oblique muscle laterally and the iliac crest inferiorly.Hernia contents included colon in 3 patients and small bowel in 2 with in-carcerated hernia with small bowel obstruction in 1,and adipose tissue and mesentery in other 12.All patients received surgery treatment,and the appropriate surgical methods were selected according to the MSCT findings.The surgical findings were consistent with MSCT results.No recurrence was found during follow-up.Conclusion LH has characteristic CT manifestations.MSCT volu-metric scanning with post-processing techniques can clearly display the type of LH,the size of abdominal wall defect,hernia contents and their complications.It is helpful for diagnosis of the LH and differentiation from other diseases,which may provide important information for clinical surgery.