Two cases of female hydrocele of the canal of nuck

Abstract

The processus vaginalis within the inguinal canal forms the canal of Nuck, which is a homolog of the processus vaginalis in women. Incomplete obliteration of the processus vaginalis causes indirect inguinal hernia or hydrocele of the canal of Nuck, a very rare condition in women. Here, we report 2 cases of hydrocele of the canal of Nuck that were diagnosed with ultrasonography in both cases and magnetic resonance imaging in 1 case to confirm the sonographic diagnosis. High ligation and hydrocelectomy were conducted in both patients. In 1 patient, 14 months later, the occurrence of contralateral inguinal hernia was suspected, but did not require surgery. The other patient had a history of surgery for left inguinal hernia 11 months before the occurrence of right hydrocele of the canal of Nuck. In both cases, the occurrence of an inguinal hernia on the contralateral side was noted.

Keywords: Canal of Nuck; Hydrocele; Inguinal hernia; Magnetic resonance imaging; Ultrasonography.

Fig. 1

Inguinal sonography. Ultrasonography of the right inguinal area shows a cystic lesion without internal echoes. During the ultrasonography, no bowel or omental fat herniation was noted.

Fig. 2

Magnetic resonance findings of a hydrocele of the canal of Nuck. (A) Axial T1-, (B) axial T2-, and (C) coronal T2-weighted images show the cystic mass (low intensity on the T1-weighted image, high intensity on the T2-weighted images) with a thin wall in the right inguinal area (white arrows).

Fig. 3

Inguinal sonography. Ultrasonography of the right inguinal area shows a small, well-defined cystic mass of about 0.74 cm×0.63 cm.