Abdominal wall hernias: a cross-sectional pictorial review

The classification of abdominal wall hernias is often made difficult by confusing eponymous and anatomic nomenclature. In this article, we review the anatomy that defines the various types of hernias. The specific cross-sectional radiologic features required to correctly identify each type are then emphasized. The appropriate clinical context and the merits of the various imaging techniques available for the investigation of abdominal wall hernias are also discussed.