Direct Inguinal Hernia
Direct inguinal hernias represent an acquired weakening of the transversalis fascia in Hesselbach’s triangle and their incidence increases with patient age. Although they occur less frequently than indirect inguinal hernias, direct inguinal hernias remain a common etiology of groin pain that may warrant surgical repair. Dynamic ultrasound (US), multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have proven to be useful adjuncts to a thorough History and Physical examination for the diagnosis, characterization, and differentiation of direct inguinal hernias from other groin pathology. In this chapter, we review the relevant anatomy and pathophysiology of direct inguinal hernias and provide a fundamental overview of their radiologic evaluation and appearance. In addition, key aspects of direct inguinal hernia radiologic interpretation are demonstrated in the supplemental videos accompanying this chapter.
