Ultrasound as a diagnostic aid in ventral abdominal hernia.

Preliminary results are presented of ultrasound investigations in 34 patients with suspected abdominal hernias. All patients were explored surgically on the basis of clinical indications, and the surgical findings were compared with the results of the ultrasound investigation. Small hernias in the anterior abdominal wall (fascia Spigelii and linea alba) can be demonstrated by ultrasound, but there are certain circumstances which can lead to false positive ultrasound results.