A NEGATIVE HERNIOGRAM DOES NOT EXCLUDE THE PRESENCE OF A HERNIA

A retrospective review of 63 consecutive herniograms over a 3-year per iod was performed to assess the reliability in diagnosis of occult her nias. In all, 26 hernias were diagnosed in 23 patients, of which 13 we re confirmed at operation. However, there were three false-positive re sults. Of the 38 negative herniograms, four proceeded to surgery with three positive hernia findings. We therefore found false-positive and false-negative rates of 18.7% and 7.9%, respectively. All of the false -positive results were in patients with a history of pain as the prese nting complaint, while all of the patients with false-negative results had presented with a history of both pain and lump but no clinically detectable hernia. Our experience of this investigation is not as enco uraging as others have reported.