A case of Morgagni hernia presenting as pneumonia

Morgagni-type diaphragmatic hernias are rare. The overwhelming majority are discovered in children who usually present with pneumonia or sepsis. We report an unusual case of a 57-yr-old woman with a Morgagni hernia presenting with pulmonary symptoms. Complicating the clinical picture, the pneumonia delayed the definitive diagnosis until a lateral chest X-ray study revealed loops of bowel in the right lower lung fields. It is important to entertain abdominal etiologies in the differential diagnosis of a thoracic density.