Herniography
DESCRIPTION
A herniography is an imaging test used in evaluation of a suspected hernia. A herniography employs injection of contrast material into the abdominal or peritoneal cavity, followed by diagnostic radiography of the pelvic region in order to outline the anatomy of the pelvic floor and its peritoneal reflections.
POLICY
Herniography for evaluation of obscure/unexplained groin pain and suspected hernia when physical examination results are equivocal is considered medically necessary.
SOURCES
BlueCross BlueShield of Association. Medical Policy Reference Manual. (3:2003). Herniography (6.01.11). Retrieved February 15, 2007 from BlueWeb.
Brierly, R. D., Hale, P. C., & Bishop, N. L. (1999). Is herniography an effective and safe investigation? Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 44 (6), 374-377.
Calder, F., Evans, R., Neilson, D., & Hurley, P. (2000). Value of herniography in the management of occult hernia and chronic groin pain in adults. British Journal of Surgery, 87 (6), 824-825.
Heise, C. P., Sproat, I. A., & Starling, J. R. (2002). Peritoneography (herniography) for detecting occult inguinal hernia in patients with inguinodynia. Annals of Surgery; 235 (1), 140-144.
Kesek, P., & Ekberg, O. (1999). Herniography in women under 40 years old with chronic groin pain. European Journal of Surgery, 165 (6), 573-578.
Leander, P., Ekberg, O., Sjoberg, S., & Kesek, P. (2000). MR imaging following herniography in patients with unclear groin pain. European Radiology, 10 (11), 1691-1696.
Makela, J. T., Kiviniemi, H., Palm, J., & Myllyla, V. (1996). The value of herniography in the diagnosis of unexplained groin pain. Annales Chirurgiae et Gynaecologiae, 85 (4), 300-304.
Mensching, J. J. & Musielewicz, A. J. (1996). Gastrointestinal emergencies, part II: Abdominal wall hernias. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, 14 (4), 739-756.
Shadbolt, C. L., Heinze, S. B., & Dietrich, R. B. (2001). Imaging of groin masses; inguinal anatomy and pathologic conditions revisited. Radiographics, 21 Spec No, S261-S271.
Sutcliffe, J. R., Taylor, O. M., Ambrose, N. S., & Chapman, A. H. (1999). The use, value, and safety of herniography. Clinical Radiology, 54 (7), 468-472.
Toms, A. P., Dixon, A. K., Murphy, J. M., & Jamieson, N. V. (1999). Illustrated review of new imaging techniques in the diagnosis of abdominal wall hernias. British Journal of Surgery, 86 (10), 1243-1249.
van den Berg, J. C., de Valois, J. C., Go, P. M., & Rosenbusch, G. (2000). Radiological anatomy of the groin region. European Radiology, 10 (4), 661-670.
ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 8/1985
MOST RECENT REVIEW DATE: 4/12/2007
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