Intercostal lung hernia

Abstract

Lung hernia is an abnormal protrusion of the lung beyond the confines of the thoracic cage. Lung hernia is an uncommon entity with fewer than 300 cases reported in the literature. We herein report three additional cases of aquired lung herniation through the intercostal space. All patients were in range 54-75 years. In two patients herniation occured in connnection with respiratory disorders and in one patient in connection with rib fracture. In all cases herniation dispays soft sometimes painful bulge increasing during coughing or Valsalva maneuver. Hernias were demonstrated on chest radiographs and clearly shown on CT scans. Surgery confirmed in our patients fractures of ribs with consecutive atrophy of intercostal muscles.