ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the experience of diagnosis and treatment for paraduodenal hernia (PDH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 16 cases with PDH surgically treated from 1962 to 2003 were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average age of the patients was 36 years old. There were 13 cases with left PDH (Landzerts hernia) and 3 cases with right PDH (Waldeyer's hernia). Ten patients usually had no symptoms, while acute abdominal pain occurred after full food in 3 case and after vigorous movement in 13 cases respectively. X-ray revealed complete or incomplete intestinal obstruction in 12 cases, while ultrasonography and CT revealed dilated cystic jejunal loop between the pancreas and the stomach in 6 cases. Fourteen cases (87.5%) were misdiagnosed before operation. The hospital stay ranged from 10 to 13 days. All patients were followed up from 2 to 4 years without recurrence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>With high misdiagnostic rate, it is the key to perform exploratory operation for suspicious PDH.</p>