Diaphragmatic hernias of the Bochdalek type are rare in adults. The diagnosis may be made with radiography of the chest in an asymptomatic person or in a person with respiratory and/or gastrointestinal symptoms. It has been mistaken for pleural effusion, empyema, lung cysts, and pneumothorax. A 38-year-old woman presented with epigastric pain and a persistent cough of 2 months' duration. A chest radiograph showed bowel loops in the left side of the chest. On laparoscopy, two defects, measuring 10 and 4 cm, respectively, were seen in the left hemidiaphragm. The herniated fundus of the stomach was reduced and the defect repaired with Gore-Tex mesh (W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, AZ, U.S.A.). The patient had an uneventful recovery. Laparoscopic repair of the rare Bochdalek hernia is feasible.