Ovulating ovary in an inguinal hemia

Abstract

Background: An ovary can, occasionally, be found in an inguinal hernia in the newborn female. This is extremely rare in premenopausal women. We report a case of an ovulating ovary in an incarcerated inguinal hernia. There is only one similar case of incarcerated ovulating ovary reported in the literature.

Method and findings: A 23-year-old Turkish woman, mother of three children, presented with a painful swelling over the upper part of left labia majora of 48 hours duration. She was diagnosed as having an obstructed left inguinal hernia. At operation the left ovary and fallopian tube were seen in the left inguinal canal. The ovary and fallopian tube were congested but viable and mature ovarian follicles could be seen on the ovary. A biopsy was taken from the ovary, the ovary and the fallopian tube were easily reduced back into the abdominal cavity and the hernia repaired.

Discussion: The presence of an ovary in the inguinal canal is very rare and should be a differential diagnosis in women presenting with an irreducible lump in the inguinal area. It should be treated as a surgical emergency.