Post-Traumatic Omental Herniation Into Pleural Space: Radiologic Features

Abstract

A 43-year-old male with history of trauma was admitted to our clinic for the further evaluation of a blunted left costophrenic angle on chest roentgenograms. Computed tomographic (CT) scans demonstrated a crescent, fat-dense, extra-pleural mass on the left lateral hemi-thorax. Vertical funicular densities consistent with blood vessels were identified in this extra-pleural lesion on enhanced CT scans. T1-weighted axial and coronal magnetic resonance images (MRI) disclosed that the omentum ran continuously from the abdominal cavity into thoracic cavity a long left lateral hemi-thorax through a defect in the diaphragm. Surgical exploration revealed the laceration of left diaphragm and left parietal pleura. The omentum was herniated into the left pleural space through small diaphragmatic defect. We report X-ray, CT and MRI features of post-traumatic omental herniation into the pleural space that, to our knowledge it has not yet been reported so far.