A hiatus hernia occurs where there is herniation of stomach through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm. It is sometimes wrongly considered synonymous with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) despite the poor correlation between the two.
Differential diagnosis:
- cavitary lung lesions
- loculated empyema
- hydropneumothorax
- oesophagal obstruction
- mediastinal abscess
- hydropneumopericardium
- chest wall abscess