Eventration of the diaphragm.
Diaphragmatic eventration is a large or small area of the diaphragm consisting of fibrous tissue only. If small it is termed partial; if large, complete. The condition is infrequently recognised since it is seldom suggested on referral. A high index of suspicion in the interpretation of chest radiographs is often all that is needed, but occasionally more complex investigative procedures may be necessary. The records of patients seen in this unit are reviewed and discussed. Induction of a pneumoperitoneum was a safe procedure and diagnostic in 8 of 9 patients. All patients with complete eventration were advised to have surgery; in those in whom partial eventration was confidently diagnosed surgery was not recommended, but it was undertaken in 4 patients in whom a confident diagnosis was not made.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003965:Diaphragmatic Eventration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged