Bilateral saccular inguinal hernias in an elderly woman presenting with advanced ovarian cancer

Abstract

SUMMARYWe present a case of an elderly woman presenting with bilateral groin hernias, one reducible and the other irreducible. CT of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated an irreducible left inguinal hernia containing an incarcerated loop of transverse colon together with saccular metastatic tumour spread. Disseminated omental disease and ascitic fluid were noted throughout the peritoneal cavity secondary to ovarian carcinoma. As a consequence of extensive malignant disease and advanced age, the patient was treated conservatively and subsequently died a number of weeks later. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second case of bilateral inguinal hernias presenting in a woman with a background of disseminated ovarian malignancy. This case highlights the importance of pre-reduction imaging in atypical complex cases. BACKGROUND

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma presenting as inguinal hernia: A case report

“…This patient's presentation of metastatic disease and rapid decline is alarming, but the presentation of his widespread metastatic disease precipitating his inguinal hernia is noteworthy. When reviewing the literature, the number of cases of cancer, of various types, presenting as hernias is significant [ 2 , 3 , 8 , 9 ]. With our patient it is suspected that the combination of the extreme hepatomegaly and free pelvic fluid increased the intra-abdominal pressure instigating the inguinal hernia.…”

Metastatic Sigmoid Colon Cancer Presented as Incarcerated Inguinal Hernia – Case Report

“…Therefore, malignant disease should be considered as a possible diagnosis in patients, who present with an unexplained groin mass. The surgeon should be alert to the possibility of encountering malignant disease at hernia sites [8,9,10]. A prospective study has shown no association between inguinal hernia and colorectal cancer [4,5].…”