A congenital or acquired defect in the small bowel mesentery can be site for an internal hernia. This is most common cause of internal hernia in children.
Location: often near the ligament of Trietz or the terminal ileum but can occur anywhere in the abdomen
Clinical features:
(1) small bowel obstruction
(2) palpable abdominal mass
(3) volvulus with strangulation or ischemia
(4) abdominal pain
CT findings:
(1) loops of bowel are not enveloped in a limiting sac
(2) lack of omental fat between the small bowel loops and the abdominal wall
