| | Modality | Advantages | Limitations | Pitfalls |
| | USG | Availability, portability, low cost, and no ionizing radiation
Capability of real time imaging (DASH, dynamic abdominal sonography for hernia, in supine and upright position at rest and with Valsalva’s maneuver), comparison with unaffected side
Can diagnose postoperative seromas and hematomas and can diagnose recurrent hernia along edge of repair using Valsalva maneuver | Being operator dependent, need of high frequency transducer, obesity, scarring, and patients with acute abdominal pain
Sonographic evaluation after hernia repair may be difficult due to dense shadowing caused by surgical mesh | Lipoma of spermatic cord and abdominal wall |
| | MDCT | High spatial and contrast resolution and multiplanar imaging
Detection of defect and contents of hernia and its complications (like incarceration, strangulation, bowel ischemia, and bowel obstruction)
Detection of postoperative complications—seroma, hematoma
Differentiation of hernia from other abdominal wall masses like hematoma, abscess, tumor, and undescended testis
CT performed during postural maneuver (prone, lateral decubitus position), maneuver to increase intra-abdominal pressure (straining, Valsalva’s maneuver) and increase lesion detection | Ionizing radiation, pregnant patients, being expensive, and availability | |
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