TY - JOUR
T1 - MRI and pathology in persistent postherniotomy pain
AU - Aasvang, Eske Kvanner
AU - Jensen, Karl-Erik
AU - Fiirgaard, Bente
AU - Kehlet, Henrik
N1 - Keywords: Contrast Media; Denmark; Edema; Genital Diseases, Male; Groin; Hernia; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Observer Variation; Pain, Postoperative; Surgical Mesh
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - BACKGROUND: Persistent postherniotomy pain impairs everyday life in 5% to 10% of patients. MRI can potentially be useful in the investigation of pathogenic mechanisms and guide surgeons in mesh removal and neurectomy. No study has investigated interobserver agreement or MRI-specific findings in persistent postherniotomy pain. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two patients with persistent postherniotomy pain > 1 year after uni- or bilateral groin hernia repair and 6 pain-free postherniotomy controls were MRI scanned, resulting in a total of 32 painful groins, 15 pain-free operated groins, and 29 pain-free unoperated groins scanned. Two blinded observers separately assessed groins using a predefined list of possible MRI pathology and anatomic landmarks. Primary outcomes included interobserver agreement assessed by calculating kappa-coefficients. Secondary outcomes included frequency of MRI pathology in painful groins versus unoperated and pain-free groins. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement was poor, ranging from kappa = 0.24 to 0.55 ("fair" to "moderate") except for "contrast enhancement in groin" (kappa = 0.69, substantial). Pathologic changes in the form of "contrast enhancement in groin," "edema," and "spermatic cord caliber increased" were significantly more often seen in painful versus unoperated groins (p < 0.02). No significant difference was seen when painful and pain-free operated groins were compared (p < 0.05). No pathologic finding was specific or seen in all painful groins. CONCLUSIONS: Interobserver agreement is low and MRI-assessed pathology unspecific for persistent postherniotomy pain. Additional studies are required on interobserver agreement for pathology before MRI can be recommended as guidance and indication for surgical treatment of persistent postherniotomy pain.
AB - BACKGROUND: Persistent postherniotomy pain impairs everyday life in 5% to 10% of patients. MRI can potentially be useful in the investigation of pathogenic mechanisms and guide surgeons in mesh removal and neurectomy. No study has investigated interobserver agreement or MRI-specific findings in persistent postherniotomy pain. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two patients with persistent postherniotomy pain > 1 year after uni- or bilateral groin hernia repair and 6 pain-free postherniotomy controls were MRI scanned, resulting in a total of 32 painful groins, 15 pain-free operated groins, and 29 pain-free unoperated groins scanned. Two blinded observers separately assessed groins using a predefined list of possible MRI pathology and anatomic landmarks. Primary outcomes included interobserver agreement assessed by calculating kappa-coefficients. Secondary outcomes included frequency of MRI pathology in painful groins versus unoperated and pain-free groins. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement was poor, ranging from kappa = 0.24 to 0.55 ("fair" to "moderate") except for "contrast enhancement in groin" (kappa = 0.69, substantial). Pathologic changes in the form of "contrast enhancement in groin," "edema," and "spermatic cord caliber increased" were significantly more often seen in painful versus unoperated groins (p < 0.02). No significant difference was seen when painful and pain-free operated groins were compared (p < 0.05). No pathologic finding was specific or seen in all painful groins. CONCLUSIONS: Interobserver agreement is low and MRI-assessed pathology unspecific for persistent postherniotomy pain. Additional studies are required on interobserver agreement for pathology before MRI can be recommended as guidance and indication for surgical treatment of persistent postherniotomy pain.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2009.02.056
DO - 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2009.02.056
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 19476886
VL - 208
SP - 1023-8; discussion 1028-9
JO - Journal of the American College of Surgeons
JF - Journal of the American College of Surgeons
SN - 1072-7515
IS - 6
ER -