Posttraumatic diaphragmatic herniation: CT findings in two children

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is a rare injury in children. The diagnosis is often delayed because of nonspecific clinical and radiologic findings. We report the CT findings in two children with visceral herniations, one hepatic and one gastric, resulting from traumatic rupture of the diaphragm. Motor-vehicle accidents are the most common cause of acquired diaphragmatic hernia in children [1]. Because it is rare and often overshadowed by associated injuries, the diagnosis of posttraumatic diaphragmatic rupture is often delayed [1, 2]. We show how CT can aid visualization of the diaphragm or reveal associated findings leading to the diagnosis of diaphragmatic rupture.