md-medicaldata

Authors

 

Milan Scepanović¹, Goran Milicević¹, Aleksandar Jovanovski², Bojan Nikolić², Miroslav Mišović², Vladica Vasiljević^2
1Unilabs Røntgen Hamar, Norway
²Institute of radiology, Military Medical Academy, Serbia

 

• The paper was received on 03.06.2016. / Accepted on 14.06.2016.

 

Correspodernce to:
Milan Scepanovic
e-mail: scepan@gmail.com 

tel.: +4793499174

 

Abstract

 

Lumbar hernias are quite uncommon as compared to all other ventral abdominal wall hernias, accounting for less than 1,5 % of the abdominal hernias with approximately only 300 cases reported in the literature so far. Lumbar hernias may be superior or inferior. The Grynfeltt-Lesshaft hernia (or superior lumbar hernia) is a rare posterolateral abdominal wall defect  and a herniation of abdominal contents through the superior lumbar triangle (also known as  Grynfeltt-Lesshaft’s triangle).
There are two broad aetiologies for Grynfeltt-Lesshaft hernias: congenital or acquired. Most common in patients aged between 50 and 70 years with a male predominance. Grynfeltt-Lesshaft hernia may contain a number of intra- or retro-peritoneal structures including: fat tissue, stomach, small or large bowel, mesentery, omentum, ovary, spleen or kidney. Clinically, patients can present with a variety of nonspecific symptoms, including a posterolateral mass, back pain, bowel obstruction (if contents contain bowel), or urinary obstruction (if contents are kidney/ureter). Given their rarity and their nonspecific presentation, lumbar hernias are an easy diagnosis to overlook. Even though the diagnosis is clinical, CT or MR imaging study is broadly recommended. Surgery is typically recommended to repair the defect and prevent complications, including strangulated hernia, however, the optimal technique should be selected on an individual basis.

Our goal herein is to increase awareness of upper lumbar hernias.

 

 

Key words

Superior lumbar, Grynfeltt-Lesshaft hernia, rare, MR scan

 

 

References

 

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PDF Scepanovic M. et al • MD-Medical Data 2016;8(2) 139-141