Sonographic aspects and anatomy of the aponeurosis of transversus abdominis muscle.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging of abdominal wall has increasingly been used for hernia diagnosis when clinical examination is uncertain. Anatomical study of abdominal wall along with the ultrasound of transversus abdominis muscle aponeurosis can help identify a Spigelian hernia in this region, a disease of difficult diagnosis. AIM: To compare the ultrasound findings of anterolateral wall of the abdomen, focusing on Spigelian aponeurosis, to the anatomy of abdominal wall studied in cadavers. METHODS: The evaluation of the transversus abdominis aponeurosis was performed during routine ultrasound exams of the anterolateral wall of the abdomen in 90 individuals of both genders, over 25 years, and data were correlated with 60 dissections of the abdominal wall, held on cadavers. RESULTS: Ultrasound showed no significant defects in the aponeurosis of transversus abdominis muscle in the 90 subjects studied and the width of the Spigelian aponeurosis ranged from 0.83 to 2.93 cm (mean 1.72 cm). During dissections of the transversus abdominis, some defects were found in 14 out of 60 muscles and aponeurosis studied (23.3%) and the width of the Spigelian aponeurosis ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 cm (mean 2.26 cm). Comparisons between age groups and genders evaluated by ultrasound with cadaver dissections performed were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Sonographic examinations found no defects in the aponeurosis of transversus abdominis muscle compatible with hernias, and anatomical variations and defects found during dissections were not as well accompanied by Spigelian hernias in the studied corpse.

Aspectos ultrassonográficos e anatomia da aponeurose do músculo transverso do abdome / Sonographic aspects and anatomy of the aponeurosis of transversus abdominis muscle

RACIONAL: A avaliação da parede abdominal pela ultrassonografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética tem sido cada vez mais indicada para auxiliar no diagnóstico das hérnias quando o exame clínico deixa dúvidas. A correlação de estudos da anatomia da parede abdominal com o exame ultrassonográfico da aponeurose do músculo transverso do abdome pode auxiliar no diagnóstico de uma hérnia desta localização, a hérnia de Spiegel, que se apresenta como doença de diagnóstico clínico difícil. OBJETIVO: Comparar os achados ultrassonográficos da parede anterolateral do abdome, com foco na aponeurose de Spiegel, e a anatomia da parede abdominal estudada em cadáveres não fixados. MÉTODO: A avaliação da aponeurose do músculo transverso do abdome foi realizada durante exames ultrassonográficos de rotina da parede anterolateral do abdome em 90 indivíduos de ambos os gêneros, maiores de 25 anos e estes dados foram relacionados com 60 dissecções da parede abdominal realizadas em cadáveres não fixados. RESULTADOS: Os exames ultrassonográficos não evidenciaram falhas significativas na aponeurose do músculo transverso do abdome nos 90 indivíduos estudados e a largura das aponeuroses de Spiegel variou de 0,83 a 2,93 cm (média de 1,72 cm). Durante as dissecções do transverso do abdome foram encontradas alterações anatômicas em 14 de 60 músculos e aponeuroses estudadas (23,3%) e a largura da aponeurose de Spiegel variou de 1,5 a 3,5 cm (média de 2,26 cm). A comparação entre os grupos etários e gêneros avaliados pelo estudo ultrassonográfico com as dissecções efetuadas em cadáveres não apresentou significância estatística. CONCLUSÃO: Os exames ultrassonográficos não encontraram defeitos na aponeurose do músculo transverso do abdome compatíveis com hérnias, assim como as variações anatômicas e os defeitos encontrados durante as dissecções também não foram acompanhados de hérnias de Spiegel nos cadáveres estudados.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging of abdominal wall has increasingly been used for hernia diagnosis when clinical examination is uncertain. Anatomical study of abdominal wall along with the ultrasound of transversus abdominis muscle aponeurosis can help identify a Spigelian hernia in this region, a disease of difficult diagnosis. AIM: To compare the ultrasound findings of anterolateral wall of the abdomen, focusing on Spigelian aponeurosis, to the anatomy of abdominal wall studied in cadavers. METHODS: The evaluation of the transversus abdominis aponeurosis was performed during routine ultrasound exams of the anterolateral wall of the abdomen in 90 individuals of both genders, over 25 years, and data were correlated with 60 dissections of the abdominal wall, held on cadavers. RESULTS: Ultrasound showed no significant defects in the aponeurosis of transversus abdominis muscle in the 90 subjects studied and the width of the Spigelian aponeurosis ranged from 0.83 to 2.93 cm (mean 1.72 cm). During dissections of the transversus abdominis, some defects were found in 14 out of 60 muscles and aponeurosis studied (23.3%) and the width of the Spigelian aponeurosis ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 cm (mean 2.26 cm). Comparisons between age groups and genders evaluated by ultrasound with cadaver dissections performed were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Sonographic examinations found no defects in the aponeurosis of transversus abdominis muscle compatible with hernias, and anatomical variations and defects found during dissections were not as well accompanied by Spigelian hernias in the studied corpse.

Métodos de medicina nuclear na detecçäo de hemorragia gastro-intestinal / Methods of nuclear medicine in detection of gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Vários métodos säo utilizados para o diagnóstico de hemorragia gastro-intestinal, sendo os radioisotópicos principais: enxofre coloidal marcado com tecnécio - 99m, mais útil para hemorragias baixas e agudas e hemácias marcadas com tecnésio - 99m, para hemorragias intermitentes do abdome superior