Question

Fred has been experiencing recurring episodes of heartburn, especially when he bends over to lace his shoes or when he lies down in bed. His physician believes Fred may have a hiatal hernia. To confirm this diagnosis, she has scheduled Fred for a “barium swallow.” In this test, a barium-containing fluid that blocks x-rays is swallowed so that the stomach appears as a bright mass in a radiograph. If Fred has a hiatal hernia, what should the radiologist see on the radiograph? Can you explain what caused the symptoms that brought Fred in to see his physician?

Answer 1

Hiatus hernia is a condition in which a part of stomach is pushed up in to lower area of chest through weakened diaphragm.

Most of the hiatus hernia might be found incidentally with a routine chest radiograph or with a CT scan. In the radiograph hiatus hernia may be appeared as retrocardiac mass with or without air fluid level. The gastric fundus discovered as displaced over the diaphragm and so it seen as retrocardiac mass. The presence of air fluid level in this mass reveals hiatus hernia.
Hiatus hernia usually shows symptoms like heartburn,dyspepsia and epigastric pain. Rarely patient may experience recurrent chest infections also. In the given scinario the patient experiences heartburn especially while bending his body or lying down over the bed. Heartburn occurs in the case of large hiatus hernia due to back up of food and acid in to esophagus.