Femoral hernia CT

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M. Khurram Afzal, MD [2]

Although the diagnostic study of choice for femoral hernia is ultrasound, abdominal CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of femoral hernia. Findings on CT scan suggestive of femoral hernia include bowel dilation, mesangial thickening and bowel strangulation. Due to the radiation exposure and high cost it is not used a s first line diagnostic tool. In emergent cases that are difficult to diagnose, abdominal CT scan can be used as a first line diagnostic tool.

• Abdominal CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of femoral hernia. Findings on CT scan suggestive of femoral hernia include:^[1][2]
  • Bowel dilation at abdominal wall defect
  • Mesangial thickening at abdominal wall defect
  • Bowel strangulation
  • The neck of the femoral hernia sac is seen as a narrow protrusion through the femoral ring medial to the femoral vein
  • Femoral vein can be seen compressed by the femoral hernia sac
  • Funnel shaped neck of the hernia sac
• Following oral iodinated contrast the contents of the hernia sac can be better visualized as being intestinal^[1]

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