A rare case report of symptomatic Bochdalek hernia in an adult

Abstract

Background: Bochdalek hernia is the most common type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and is commonly diagnosed prenatally or in the immediate postnatal period. Adult cases are extremely rare and mostly asymptomatic. Symptomatic cases are even more exceptional with a wide variety of gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose.Case: A 58-year-old female had experienced nausea, vomiting, atypical chest pain, and productive cough for two weeks before admission. She was diagnosed and treated for pneumonia and dyspepsia before being referred to our hospital. Further investigation using computerized tomography (CT) scan of the thorax showed a defect at the posterior aspect of left hemidiaphragm with a protrusion of the stomach and its omentum to the left hemithorax.Conclusion: Symptomatic adult case of Bochdalek hernia is rare and difficult to diagnose. The CT scan can be used to confirm the diagnosis.