A 10-year restrospective evaluation of ultrasound in pregnant abdominal trauma patients.

The pregnant abdominal trauma patient presents a unique diagnostic challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of abdominal sonography for the detection of clinically important injuries in pregnant abdominal trauma patients. A retrospective review was performed of a trauma center database from 2001 to 2011. Medical records were reviewed to determine initial abdominal imaging test results and clinical course. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ultrasound for detection of traumatic injury were calculated. Of 19,128 patients with suspected abdominal trauma, 385 (2 %) were pregnant. Of these, 372 (97 %) received ultrasound as the initial abdominal imaging test. All 13 pregnant patients who did not receive ultrasound received abdominal CT. Seven pregnant patients underwent both ultrasound and CT. Seven ultrasound examinations were positive, leading to one therapeutic Cesarean section and one laparotomy. One ultrasound was considered false positive (no injury was seen on subsequent CT). There were 365 negative ultrasound examinations. Of these, 364 were true negative (no abdominal injury subsequently found). One ultrasound was considered false negative (a large fetal subchorionic hemorrhage seen on subsequent dedicated obstetrical ultrasound). Sensitivity and positive predictive value were 85.7 %. Specificity and negative predictive value were 99.7 %. Abdominal sonography is an effective and sufficient imaging examination in pregnant abdominal trauma patients. When performed as part of the initial assessment using an abbreviated trauma protocol with brief modifications for pregnancy, ultrasound minimizes diagnostic delay, obviates radiation risk, and provides high sensitivity for injury in the pregnant population.

CT colonography for the detection of nonpolypoid adenomas: sensitivity assessed with restricted national CT colonography trial criteria.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of nonpolypoid adenomas and the sensitivity of CT colonography (CTC) in their detection by use of the restricted criteria of height-to-width ratio<50% and height elevation≤3 mm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the National CT Colonography Trial (American College of Radiology Imaging Network protocol 6664), a cohort of 2531 participants without symptoms underwent CTC and screening colonoscopy. The CTC examinations were interpreted with both 2D and 3D techniques. Nonpolypoid adenomatous polyps identified with CTC or colonoscopy were retrospectively reviewed to determine which polyps met the restricted criteria. The prevalence of nonpolypoid adenomas and the prospective sensitivity of CTC were determined. Descriptive statistics were used to report the prevalence, size, and histologic features. The sensitivities (with 95% CIs) for nonpolypoid and polypoid lesions were compared by two-sided Z test for independent binomial proportions. RESULTS: The retrospective review confirmed 21 nonpolypoid adenomas, yielding a prevalence of 0.83% (21 of 2531 participants). Eight (38.1%) were advanced adenomas, many (50% [4/8]) only because of large size (≥10 mm). The overall per polyp sensitivity of CTC (combined 2D and 3D interpretation) for detecting nonpolypoid adenomas≥5 mm (n=21) was 0.76; ≥6 mm (n=16), 0.75; and ≥10 mm (n=5), 0.80. These values were not statistically different from the sensitivity of detecting polypoid adenomas (p>0.37). CONCLUSION: In this large screening population, nonpolypoid adenomas had a very low prevalence (<1%), and advanced pathologic features were uncommon in polyps<10 mm in diameter. Most nonpolypoid adenomas are technically visible at CTC. The prospective sensitivity is similar to that for polypoid adenomas when the interpretation combines both 2D and 3D review.

The National CT Colonography Trial: assessment of accuracy in participants 65 years of age and older.

PURPOSE: To conduct post-hoc analysis of National CT Colonography Trial data and compare the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomographic (CT) colonography in participants younger than 65 years with those in participants aged 65 years and older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 2600 asymptomatic participants recruited at 15 centers for the trial, 497 were 65 years of age or older. Approval of this HIPAA-compliant study was obtained from the institutional review board of each site, and informed consent was obtained from each subject. Radiologists certified in CT colonography reported lesions 5 mm in diameter or larger. Screening detection of large (≥10-mm) histologically confirmed colorectal neoplasia was the primary end point; screening detection of smaller (6-9-mm) colorectal neoplasia was a secondary end point. The differences in sensitivity and specificity of CT colonography in the two age cohorts (age < 65 years and age ≥ 65 years) were estimated with bootstrap confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Complete data were available for 477 participants 65 years of age or older (among 2531 evaluable participants). Prevalence of adenomas 1 cm or larger for the older participants versus the younger participants was 6.9% (33 of 477) versus 3.7% (76 of 2054) (P < .004). For large neoplasms, mean estimates for CT colonography sensitivity and specificity among the older cohort were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.644, 0.944) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.779, 0.883), respectively. For large neoplasms in the younger group, CT colonography sensitivity and specificity were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.837, 0.967) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.816, 0.899), respectively. Per-polyp sensitivity for large neoplasms for the older and younger populations was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.578, 0.869) and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.717, 0.924), respectively. For the older and younger groups, per-participant sensitivity was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.565, 0.854) and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.745, 0.882) for detecting adenomas 6 mm in diameter or larger. CONCLUSION: For most measures of diagnostic performance and in most subsets, the difference between senior-aged participants and those younger than 65 years was not statistically significant.

Not so FAST-Chest ultrasound underdiagnoses traumatic pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography for trauma is a widely used tool in the initial evaluation of trauma patients with complete ultrasonography of trauma (CUST) demonstrating equivalence to computed tomography (CT) for detecting clinically significant abdominal hemorrhage. Initial reports demonstrated high sensitivity of CUST for the bedside diagnosis of pneumothorax. We hypothesized that the sensitivity of CUST would be greater than initial supine chest radiograph (CXR) for detecting pneumothorax. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with pneumothorax from 2018 through 2020 at a Level I trauma center was performed. Patients included had routine supine CXR and CUST performed prior to intervention as well as confirmatory CT imaging. All CUST were performed during the initial evaluation in the trauma bay by a registered sonographer. All imaging was evaluated by an attending radiologist. Subgroup analysis was performed after excluding occult pneumothorax. Immediate tube thoracostomy was defined as tube placement with confirmatory CXR within 8 hours of admission. RESULTS: There were 568 patients screened with a diagnosis of pneumothorax, identifying 362 patients with a confirmed pneumothorax in addition to CXR, CUST, and confirmatory CT imaging. The population was 83% male, had a mean age of 45 years, with 85% presenting due to blunt trauma. Sensitivity of CXR for detecting pneumothorax was 43%, while the sensitivity of CUST was 35%. After removal of occult pneumothorax (n = 171), CXR was 78% sensitive, while CUST was 65% sensitive (p < 0.01). In this subgroup, CUST had a false-negative rate of 36% (n = 62). Of those patients with a false-negative CUST, 50% (n = 31) underwent tube thoracostomy, with 85% requiring immediate placement. CONCLUSION: Complete ultrasonography of trauma performed on initial trauma evaluation had lower sensitivity than CXR for identification of pneumothorax including clinically significant pneumothorax requiring tube thoracostomy. Using CUST as the primary imaging modality in the initial evaluation of chest trauma should be considered with caution. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Test study, Level IV.

Accuracy of CT colonography for detection of large adenomas and cancers.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomographic (CT) colonography is a noninvasive option in screening for colorectal cancer. However, its accuracy as a screening tool in asymptomatic adults has not been well defined. METHODS: We recruited 2600 asymptomatic study participants, 50 years of age or older, at 15 study centers. CT colonographic images were acquired with the use of standard bowel preparation, stool and fluid tagging, mechanical insufflation, and multidetector-row CT scanners (with 16 or more rows). Radiologists trained in CT colonography reported all lesions measuring 5 mm or more in diameter. Optical colonoscopy and histologic review were performed according to established clinical protocols at each center and served as the reference standard. The primary end point was detection by CT colonography of histologically confirmed large adenomas and adenocarcinomas (10 mm in diameter or larger) that had been detected by colonoscopy; detection of smaller colorectal lesions (6 to 9 mm in diameter) was also evaluated. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 2531 participants (97%). For large adenomas and cancers, the mean (+/-SE) per-patient estimates of the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve for CT colonography were 0.90+/-0.03, 0.86+/-0.02, 0.23+/-0.02, 0.99+/-<0.01, and 0.89+/-0.02, respectively. The sensitivity of 0.90 (i.e., 90%) indicates that CT colonography failed to detect a lesion measuring 10 mm or more in diameter in 10% of patients. The per-polyp sensitivity for large adenomas or cancers was 0.84+/-0.04. The per-patient sensitivity for detecting adenomas that were 6 mm or more in diameter was 0.78. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of asymptomatic adults, CT colonographic screening identified 90% of subjects with adenomas or cancers measuring 10 mm or more in diameter. These findings augment published data on the role of CT colonography in screening patients with an average risk of colorectal cancer. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00084929; American College of Radiology Imaging Network [ACRIN] number, 6664.)

ACRIN CT colonography trial: does reader's preference for primary two-dimensional versus primary three-dimensional interpretation affect performance?

PURPOSE: To determine whether the reader's preference for a primary two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) computed tomographic (CT) colonographic interpretation method affects performance when using each technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this institutional review board-approved, HIPAA-compliant study, images from 2531 CT colonographic examinations were interpreted by 15 trained radiologists by using colonoscopy as a reference standard. Through a survey at study start, study end, and 6-month intervals, readers were asked whether their interpretive preference in clinical practice was to perform a primary 2D, primary 3D, or both 2D and 3D interpretation. Readers were randomly assigned a primary interpretation method (2D or 3D) for each CT colonographic examination. Sensitivity and specificity of each method (primary 2D or 3D), for detecting polyps of 10 mm or larger and 6 mm or larger, based on interpretive preference were estimated by using resampling methods. RESULTS: Little change was observed in readers' preferences when comparing them at study start and study end, respectively, as follows: primary 2D (eight and seven readers), primary 3D (one and two readers), and both 2D and 3D (six and six readers). Sensitivity and specificity, respectively, for identifying examinations with polyps of 10 mm or larger for readers with a primary 2D preference (n = 1128 examinations) were 0.84 and 0.86, which was not significantly different from 0.84 and 0.83 for readers who preferred 2D and 3D (n = 1025 examinations) or from 0.76 and 0.82 for readers with a primary 3D preference (n = 378 examinations). When performance by using the assigned 2D or 3D method was evaluated on the basis of 2D or 3D preference, there was no difference among those readers by using their preferred versus not preferred method of interpretation. Similarly, no significant difference among readers or preferences was seen when performance was evaluated for detection of polyps of 6 mm or larger. CONCLUSION: The reader's preference for interpretive method had no effect on CT colonographic performance.

National CT colonography trial (ACRIN 6664): comparison of three full-laxative bowel preparations in more than 2500 average-risk patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to compare the effect of three different full-laxative bowel preparations on patient compliance, residual stool and fluid, reader confidence, and polyp detection at CT colonography (CTC). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 2531 patients underwent CTC followed by colonoscopy for the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) National CTC Trial. Of this total, 2525 patients used one of three bowel preparations with bisacodyl tablets and stool and fluid tagging: 4 L of polyethylene glycol (PEG); 90 mL of phosphosoda; or 300 mL of magnesium citrate. Patients reported percent compliance with the bowel preparation and radiologists graded each CTC examination for the amount of residual fluid and stool on a scale from 1 (none) to 4 (nondiagnostic). Reader confidence for true-positive findings was reported on a 5-point scale: 1 (low) to 5 (high). Sensitivity and specificity for detecting polyps ≥ 6 mm and ≥ 1 cm compared with colonoscopy were calculated for each preparation. RESULTS: The most commonly prescribed preparation was phosphosoda (n = 1403) followed by PEG (n = 1020) and magnesium citrate (n = 102). Phosphosoda had the highest patient compliance (p = 0.01), least residual stool (p < 0.001), and highest reader confidence versus PEG for examinations with polyps (p = 0.06). Magnesium citrate had significantly more residual fluid compared with PEG and phosphosoda (p = 0.006). The sensitivity and specificity for detecting colon polyps ≥ 6 mm and ≥ 1 cm did not differ significantly between preparations. CONCLUSION: Polyp detection was comparable for all three preparations, although phosphosoda had significantly higher patient compliance and the least residual stool.

Pulmonary embolism at CT angiography: implications for appropriateness, cost, and radiation exposure in 2003 patients.

PURPOSE: To determine whether thromboembolic risk factor assessment could accurately indicate the pretest probability for pulmonary embolism (PE), and if so, computed tomographic (CT) angiography might be targeted more appropriately than in current usage, resulting in decreased costs and radiation exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained. Electronic medical records of 2003 patients who underwent CT angiography for possible PE during 1(1/2) years (July 2004 to February 2006) were reviewed retrospectively for thromboembolic risk factors. Risk factors that were assessed included immobilization, malignancy, hypercoagulable state, excess estrogen state, a history of venous thromboembolism, age, and sex. Logistic regressions were conducted to test the significance of each risk factor. RESULTS: Overall, CT angiograms were negative for PE in 1806 (90.16%) of 2003 patients. CT angiograms were positive for PE in 197 (9.84%) of 2003 patients; 6.36% were Emergency Department patients, and 13.46% were inpatients. Of the 197 patients with CT angiograms positive for PE, 192 (97.46%) had one or more risk factors, of which age of 65 years or older (69.04%) was the most common. Of the 1806 patients with CT angiograms negative for PE, 520 (28.79%) had no risk factors. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of risk factor assessment in all patients were 97.46% and 99.05%, respectively. All risk factors, except sex, were significant in the multivariate logistic regression (P < .031). CONCLUSION: In the setting of no risk factors, it is extraordinarily unlikely (0.95% chance) to have a CT angiogram positive for PE. This selectivity and triage step should help reduce current costs and radiation exposure to patients.

Can radiologist training and testing ensure high performance in CT colonography? Lessons From the National CT Colonography Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to describe the experience of the National CT Colonography Trial with radiologist training and qualification testing at CT colonography (CTC) and to correlate this experience with subsequent performance in a prospective screening study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ten inexperienced radiologists participated in a 1-day educational course, during which partial CTC examinations of 27 cases with neoplasia and full CTC examinations of 15 cases were reviewed using primary 2D and 3D search. Subsequently 15 radiologists took a qualification examination composed of 20 CTC cases. Radiologists who did not pass the first qualification examination attended a second day of focused retraining of 30 cases, which was followed by a second qualification examination. The results of the initial and subsequent qualification tests were compared with reader performance in a large prospective screening trial. RESULTS: All radiologists took and passed the qualification examinations. Seven radiologists passed the qualification examination the first time it was offered, and eight radiologists passed after focused retraining. Significantly better sensitivities were obtained on the second versus the first examination for the retrained radiologists (difference = 16%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in sensitivities between the groups who passed the qualification examination the first time versus those who passed the second time in the prospective study (88% vs 92%, respectively; p = 0.612). In the prospective study, the odds of correctly identifying diseased cases increased by 1.5 fold for every 50-case increase in reader experience or formal training (p < 0.025). CONCLUSION: A significant difference in performance was observed among radiologists before formalized training, but testing and focused retraining improved radiologist performance, resulting in an overall high sensitivity across radiologists in a subsequent, prospective screening study.

Ultrasonographic inferior vena cava diameter response to trauma resuscitation after 1 hour predicts 24-hour fluid requirement.

BACKGROUND: Identification of occult hypovolemia in trauma patients is difficult. We hypothesized that in acute trauma patients, the response of ultrasound-measured minimum inferior vena cava diameter (IVCDMIN), IVC Collapsibility Index (IVCCI), minimum internal jugular diameter (IJVDMIN) or IJV Collapsibility Index (IJVCI) after up to 1 hour of fluid resuscitation would predict 24-hour resuscitation intravenous fluid requirements (24FR). METHODS: An NTI-funded, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Multi-Institutional Trials Committee prospective, cohort trial was conducted at four Level I Trauma Centers. Major trauma patients were screened for an IVCD of 12 mm or less or IVCCI of 50% or less on initial focused assessment sonographic evaluations for trauma. A second IVCD was obtained 40 minutes to 60 minutes later, after standard-of-care fluid resuscitation. Patients whose second measured IVCD was less than 10 mm were deemed nonrepleted (NONREPLETED), those 10 mm or greater were repleted (REPLETED). Prehospital and initial resuscitation fluids and 24FR were recorded. Demographics, Injury Severity Score, arterial blood gasses, length of stay, interventions, and complications were recorded. Means were compared by ANOVA and categorical variables were compared via χ. Receiver operating characteristic curves analysis was used to compare the measures as 24FR predictors. RESULTS: There were 4,798 patients screened, 196 were identified with admission IVCD of 12 mm or IVCCI of 50% or less, 144 were enrolled. There were 86 REPLETED and 58 NONREPLETED. Demographics, initial hemodynamics, or laboratory measures were not significantly different. NONREPLETED had smaller IVCD (6.0 ± 3.7 mm vs. 14.2 ± 4.3 mm, p < 0.001) and higher IVCCI (41.7% ± 30.0% vs. 13.2% ± 12.7%, p < 0.001) but no significant difference in IJVD or IJVCCI. REPLETED had greater 24FR than NONREPLETED (2503 ± 1751 mL vs. 1,243 ± 1,130 mL, p = 0.003). Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicates IVCDMIN predicted 24FR (area under the curve [AUC], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64-0.84; p < 0.001) as did IVCCI (AUC, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.65-0.85; p < 0.001) but not IJVDMIN (AUC, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.24-0.60; p = 0.747) or IJVCI (AUC, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.42-0.67; p = 0.591). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound assessed IVCDMIN and IVCCI response initial resuscitation predicts 24-hour fluid resuscitation requirements. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic tests or criteria, level II.

MR imaging of liver fibrosis: current state of the art.

Chronic liver disease is a major public health problem worldwide. Liver fibrosis, a common feature of almost all causes of chronic liver disease, involves the accumulation of collagen, proteoglycans, and other macromolecules within the extracellular matrix. Fibrosis tends to progress, leading to hepatic dysfunction, portal hypertension, and ultimately cirrhosis. Liver biopsy, the standard of reference for diagnosing liver fibrosis, is invasive, costly, and subject to complications and sampling variability. These limitations make it unsuitable for diagnosis and longitudinal monitoring in the general population. Thus, development of a noninvasive, accurate, and reproducible test for diagnosis and monitoring of liver fibrosis would be of great value. Conventional cross-sectional imaging techniques have limited capability to demonstrate liver fibrosis. In clinical practice, imaging studies are usually reserved for evaluation of the presence of portal hypertension or hepatocellular carcinoma in cases that have progressed to cirrhosis. In response to the rising prevalence of chronic liver diseases in Western nations, a number of imaging-based methods including ultrasonography-based transient elastography, computed tomography-based texture analysis, and diverse magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-based techniques have been proposed for noninvasive diagnosis and grading of hepatic fibrosis across its entire spectrum of severity. State-of-the-art MR imaging-based techniques in current practice and in development for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis include conventional contrast material-enhanced MR imaging, double contrast-enhanced MR imaging, MR elastography, diffusion-weighted imaging, and MR perfusion imaging.

Reader agreement and accuracy of ultrasound features for hepatic steatosis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to assess the reader agreement and accuracy of eight ultrasound imaging features for classifying hepatic steatosis in adults with known or suspected hepatic steatosis. METHODS: This was an IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant prospective study of adult patients with known or suspected hepatic steatosis. All patients signed written informed consent. Ultrasound images (Siemens S3000, 6C1HD, and 4C1 transducers) were acquired by experienced sonographers following a standard protocol. Eight readers independently graded eight features and their overall impression of hepatic steatosis on ordinal scales using an electronic case report form. Duplicated images from the 6C1HD transducer were read twice to assess intra-reader agreement. Intra-reader, inter-transducer, and inter-reader agreement were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Features with the highest intra-reader agreement were selected as predictors for dichotomized histological steatosis using Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis, and the accuracy of the decision rule was compared to the accuracy of the radiologists' overall impression. RESULTS: 45 patients (18 males, 27 females; mean age 56 ± 12 years) scanned from September 2015 to July 2016 were included. Mean intra-reader ICCs ranged from 0.430 to 0.777, inter-transducer ICCs ranged from 0.228 to 0.640, and inter-reader ICCs ranged from 0.014 to 0.561. The CART decision rule selected only large hepatic vein blurring and achieved similar accuracy to the overall impression (74% to 75% and 68% to 72%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Large hepatic vein blurring, liver-kidney contrast, and overall impression provided the highest reader agreement. Large hepatic vein blurring may provide the highest classification accuracy for dichotomized grading of hepatic steatosis.

Fatty liver: imaging patterns and pitfalls.

Fat accumulation is one of the most common abnormalities of the liver depicted on cross-sectional images. Common patterns include diffuse fat accumulation, diffuse fat accumulation with focal sparing, and focal fat accumulation in an otherwise normal liver. Unusual patterns that may cause diagnostic confusion by mimicking neoplastic, inflammatory, or vascular conditions include multinodular and perivascular accumulation. All of these patterns involve the heterogeneous or nonuniform distribution of fat. To help prevent diagnostic errors and guide appropriate work-up and management, radiologists should be aware of the different patterns of fat accumulation in the liver, especially as they are depicted at ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, knowledge of the risk factors and the pathophysiologic, histologic, and epidemiologic features of fat accumulation may be useful for avoiding diagnostic pitfalls and planning an appropriate work-up in difficult cases.

Parenchymal Volumetric Assessment as a Predictive Tool to Determine Renal Function Benefit of Nephron-Sparing Surgery Compared with Radical Nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To develop a preoperative prediction model using a computer-assisted volumetric assessment of potential spared parenchyma to estimate the probability of chronic kidney disease (CKD, estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) 6 months from extirpative renal surgery (nephron-sparing surgery [NSS] or radical nephrectomy [RN]). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent NSS or RN at our institution from January 2000 to June 2013 with a compatible CT scan 6-month renal function follow-up was performed. Primary outcome was defined as the accuracy of 6-month postoperative eGFR compared with actual postoperative eGFR based on root mean square error (RMSE). Models were constructed using renal volumes and externally validated. A clinical tool was developed on the best model after a given surgical procedure using area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: We identified 130 (51 radical, 79 partial) patients with a median age of 58 years (interquartile range [IQR] 48-67) and preoperative eGFR of 82.1 (IQR 65.9-104.3); postoperative CKD (eGFR <60) developed in 42% (55/130). We performed various linear regression models to predict postoperative eGFR. The Quadratic model was the highest performing model, which relied only on preoperative GFR and the volumetric data for a RMSE of 15.3 on external validation corresponding to a clinical tool with an AUC of 0.89. CONCLUSION: Volumetric-based assessment provides information to predict postoperative eGFR. A tool based on this equation may assist surgical counseling regarding renal functional outcomes before renal tumor surgical procedures.

Abdominal wall hernias: imaging features, complications, and diagnostic pitfalls at multi-detector row CT.

Abdominal wall hernias are a common imaging finding in the abdomen and may be complicated by strangulation, incarceration, or trauma. Because of the risk of developing complications, most abdominal wall hernias are surgically repaired, even if asymptomatic. However, post-surgical complications are also common and include hernia recurrence, infected and noninfected fluid collections, and complications related to prosthetic material. Multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) with its multiplanar capabilities is particularly useful for the evaluation of unrepaired and surgically repaired abdominal wall hernias. Multi-detector row CT provides exquisite anatomic detail of the abdominal wall, thereby allowing accurate identification of wall hernias and their contents, differentiation of hernias from other abdominal masses (tumors, hematomas, abscesses), and detection of pre- or postoperative complications. These findings improve the communication of imaging results to clinicians and help optimize treatment planning. Knowledge of multi-detector row CT findings in unrepaired and surgically repaired abdominal wall hernias and their complications is essential for making the correct diagnosis and may help guide clinical management.