Congenital Morgagni hernia in a middle-aged woman presenting with chest pain

A 56-year-old woman with a history of type II diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia presented to the emergency department with retrosternal chest pain that had increased over the past 5 days. She was experiencing a localized chest pressure that was aggravated with eating and physical activity. The medical history was negative for coronary artery disease or any other cardiac diseases. On electrocardiogram, normal sinus rhythm was detected with normal appearing ST-T segments. Cardiac troponin I was below the detectable level. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed normal left ventricular systolic function with moderate left ventricular hypertrophy, Grade I diastolic dysfunction, and no regional wall motion abnormalities. There was no significant valvular dysfunction. However, a retrosternal mass anterior to the right ventricle was visualized (Fig. 1). Posterior-anterior and lateral chest radiographs were obtained, which showed gas-containing opacity in the right and anterior side of thorax with mediastinal shift to the left suggesting diaphragmatic hernia (Fig. 2). Chest computed tomography showed large Morgagni hernia with protrusion of omental fat and bowel contents to anterior and right side of thoracic cavity (Fig. 3). Thoracic surgery was consulted and the patient was scheduled for surgical repair of the diaphragmatic defect.

Figure 1.

Long-axis parasternal echocardiogram showing retrosternal mass. Arrow indicates pericardium and asterisk indicates hernia contents.

Figure 2.

PA and lateral chest X-ray showing gas-containing opacity in the right and anterior side of thorax with mediastinal shift to the left suggesting diaphragmatic hernia.

Figure 3.

A: coronal and axial B: chest computed tomography views showing large Morgagni hernia with protrusion of omental fat and bowel contents in anterior and mostly right side of thoracic cavity.

Morgagni hernias are rarely encountered in adult population and account for approximately 3% of congenital diaphragmatic hernias. They occur as a result of defect of anterior and typically right side of diaphragm. Omental fat and transverse colon are most commonly herniated structures. These defects are usually discovered during prenatal ultrasound or present with respiratory symptoms early in life¹. As adult patients are generally asymptomatic or present with vague symptoms, the diagnosis is generally delayed. Although they can be incidentally discovered during an imaging study of the chest, TTE is exceedingly rare method described in visualization of Morgagni hernia². Once diagnosed, surgical repair is generally warranted to prevent complications and strangulation.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Ethical disclosures

Protection of human and animal subjects. The authors declare that no experiments were performed on humans or animals for this study.

Confidentiality of data. The authors declare that they have followed the protocols of their work center on the publication of patient data.

Right to privacy and informed consent. The authors have obtained the written informed consent of the patients or subjects mentioned in the article. The corresponding author is in possession of this document.