Ultrasound diagnosis of congenital Morgagni hernias: Ten years of experience at two Chinese centers.

Background: Morgagni hernias are rare anomalies that are easily misdiagnosed or missed.

Aim: To summarize the ultrasound (US) imaging characteristics of Morgagni hernias through a comparison of imaging and surgical results.

Methods: The records of children with Morgagni hernias who were hospitalized at two hospitals between January 2013 and November 2023 were retrospectively reviewed in terms of clinical findings, US features, and operative details.

Results: Between 2013 and 2023, we observed nine (five male and four female) children with Morgagni hernias. Upper abdominal scanning revealed a widening of the prehepatic space, with an abnormal channel extending from the xiphoid process to the right or left side of the thoracic cavity. The channel had intestinal duct and intestinal gas echoes. Hernia contents were found in the transverse colon ( = 6), the colon and small intestine ( = 2), and the colon and stomach ( = 1). Among the patients, seven had a right-sided lesion, two had a left-sided lesion, and all of them had hernial sacs.

Conclusion: US imaging can accurately determine the location, extent, and content of Morgagni hernias. For suspected Morgagni hernias, we recommend performing sonographic screening first.