Ultrasound highly accurate for diagnosing groin hernia

(HealthDay)—Ultrasound (US) is highly accurate for diagnosing the presence and type of groin hernia, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.

Ryan Ka Lok Lee, M.B.Ch.B., from the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, and colleagues examined the accuracy of US in diagnosing the presence and type of groin hernia. Data were included from 172 US examinations of the groin conducted in 151 patients (mean age, 59 years; 101 males).

The researchers found that 119 of the groin hernias had been diagnosed on US and subsequent surgery was required for 91 percent. The eleven patients who had positive results for hernia on US and did not require surgery, and most of the 48 patients with negative results for hernia, underwent limited magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. The rates of sensitivity and specificity of US were 96 and 96 percent overall, respectively, for diagnosing the presence of groin hernia. There was improvement in the sensitivity and specificity, from 92 and 88 percent before 2011 to 98 and 100 percent beginning in 2011. US had 96 percent overall accuracy for diagnosing the type of groin hernia, with improvement seen over time, from 91 percent before 2011 to 98 percent beginning in 2011.

"US is highly accurate at diagnosing the presence and type of groin hernia," the authors write.

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