[Fat herniation through the diaphragm].

In 6 patients a hemispheric epidiaphragmatic shadow was observed in chest X-ray. It was located in the dorsolateral or dorsomedial aspect of the left diaphragm in 4, on the left diaphragmatic cupola in 1, and in the right cardio-phrenic angle in 1. In each case the shadow was caused by herniation of fat through the diaphragm. In one case a hernia of Morgagni was found on thoracotomy. In the other 5 patients the diagnosis of fatty herniation was made by computed tomography, which demonstrated the small diaphragmatic defect as well as the fatty nature of the mass. These 5 patients did not undergo surgery as the herniation caused no symptoms.