Diaphragmatic hernia with isolated shoulder pain evoked by surfeit

Right-sided Morgagni diaphragmatic hernia presenting as isolated left shoulder pain

A woman in her 60s presented to the emergency department with excruciating, deep left shoulder pain and was found to have a right-sided Morgagni hernia, a rare type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). She did not have chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, cough, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or other symptoms classically associated with CDHs in adults. Laparoscopic robotic-assisted repair with mesh placement was performed, and the patient's recovery was uncomplicated, with no recurrence of shoulder pain. Our patient's presentation was unusual due to the absence of symptoms typically seen with CDHs in adults, and the presence of contralateral, left-sided shoulder pain with a right-sided Morgagni hernia.

A rare Bochdalek hernia in an adult: a case report

BACKGROUND

Symptomatic Bochdalek hernias are found mainly in infants in respiratory distress and occur rarely in adults.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a rare case of Bochdalek hernia associated with developmental abnormalities in an adult who exhibited acute chest pain and dyspnea on exertion.

CONCLUSIONS

This case highlights the importance of the differential diagnosis of acute left-sided chest pain and antenatal examination.