Unilateral atrophy of the rectus abdominis

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Abstract

This paper presents four cases of unilateral rectus abdominis atrophy, all diagnosed by ultrasound. Three were associated with previous abdominal surgeries and one happened after an episode of severe self-limited pain in the same hemi-abdomen, which we speculate could have been caused by a herpes zoster infection without eruption. Three of the patients had relevant symptoms and in one patient it was an incidental finding. Besides presenting the illustrative images, we discuss the implications of this diagnosis to the wellbeing and appropriate treatment of the patients.