title: The use, value and safety of herniography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety, sensitivity and specificity of out-patient herniography when used to diagnose hernias in the presence of a normal or equivocal physical examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study reviewed the symptoms, clinical findings, radiological findings, surgical findings and clinical outcome of 112 patients referred for herniography over a 5-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant complications were encountered. Thirty hernias were diagnosed. There was one false-positive and one false-negative examination giving herniography a sensitivity of 96.6% and a specificity of 98.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Herniography is a sensitive, specific, safe and reliable investigation which should be available to and used by all surgeons who perform hernia repair operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, St. James's Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sutcliffe
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Ambrose
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity