title: High accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosing the presence and type of groin hernia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound (US) in diagnosing the the presence and type of groin hernia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied the results of 172 US examinations of the groin in 151 patients (101 men and 50 women; mean age, 59 years) who had undergone US examination for suspected groin hernia. In total, 119 of the groin hernias had been diagnosed on US, and 108 (91%) had required subsequent surgery. All patients who had had positive results for hernia on US and did not undergo surgery (n = 11) and most of the patients whose US results had been negative for hernia (n = 48) underwent limited MRI or CT scanning. We determined the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of US in diagnosing the presence and type of groin hernia. To identify any change in the accuracy of US over time at our institution, we compared the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of its use from January 2002 through December 2010 (n = 54 groins) with those from January 2011 through December 2012 (n = 118 groins).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall rates of sensitivity and specificity of US for diagnosing the presence of groin hernia were 96% and 96%. These rates reflect improvements from 92% and 88% prior to 2011 to 98% and 100% beginning in 2011. In addition, the overall accuracy of US for diagnosing the type of groin hernia was 96%. This also improved over time at our center from 91% prior to 2011 to 98% beginning in 2011.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US is highly accurate at diagnosing the presence and type of groin hernia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ryan Ka Lok
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wing Hung Alex
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006119:Groin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: accuracy; inguinal hernia; type; ultrasonography