title: Computed tomography classification for parastomal hernia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological incidence of parastomal hernia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed, retrospectively, 83 patients with end colostomy operated on from January 2003 to June 2009 at Ajou University hospital. Age, sex, surgical procedure type, body mass index (weight/length(2)), stoma size, and respiratory co-morbidity were documented. We compared the incidence of radiological and clinical parastomal hernia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 47 males (56.6%) and 36 females (43.4%). During an overall median follow-up of 30 months (range, 6 to 45 months), 24 patients (28.9%) developed a radiological parastomal hernia postoperatively and 20 patients (24.1%) presented clinical symptoms. Using computed tomography (CT) classification, the groups were as follows: type 0 (40, 48.2%), type Ia (19, 22.9%), type Ib (8, 9.6%), type II (4, 4.8%) and type III (12, 14.5%), with 63 asymptomatic patients and 20 symptomatic patients. The aperture size was significantly different between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (76.45 mm vs. 49.41 mm; P = 0.000). There was a significant correlation between aperture size and the radiological type (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed the incidence of radiological parastomal hernia is acceptable compared to previous studies. CT classification may be useful to evaluate parastomal hernia.
authors: Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors: Su Han
authors: SH
authors: Seo
authors: Hee Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Kim
authors: Seung Yeop
authors: SY
authors: Oh
authors: Jei Hee
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Kwang Wook
authors: KW
authors: Suh