Radiological insights into a voluminous left-sided Morgagni-Larrey hernia: A case report

Morgagni-Larrey hernia is a rare condition, accounting for less than 5% of congenital diaphragmatic hernias, with a marked predominance on the right side. Left-sided localizations are encountered rarely due to the protection afforded by the heart and pericardium. We report the case of a 17-year-old patient admitted to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain and dyspnea. Chest X-ray revealed a left basithoracic opacity with air-fluid level, confirmed by thoracoabdominal-pelvic computed tomography as corresponding to a left sided Morgagni-Larrey hernia. The hernial contents were particularly extensive, including the stomach, spleen, transverse colon, omentum, and tail of the pancreas. The patient underwent surgical reduction of the viscera and closure of the diaphragmatic defect, with a favorable postoperative outcome. This case illustrates the rarity of large left-sided Morgagni-Larrey hernias and highlights the importance of imaging, particularly CT, for diagnosis and surgical planning.