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Case Reports
. 2016 Oct 19;10(1):287.
doi: 10.1186/s13256-016-1084-3.

A rare presentation of ectopic ovary in a female adolescent and the impact of obesity: a case report

Valirie Ndip Agbor  1 , Tsi Njim  2   3 , Leopold Ndemnge Aminde  4   5
Affiliations
Case Reports

A rare presentation of ectopic ovary in a female adolescent and the impact of obesity: a case report

Valirie Ndip Agbor et al. J Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Inguinal hernias in women of reproductive age containing the ovary are very rare. When they occur in this age group, they are mostly associated with malformations of the urogenital system. Prompt surgical intervention is the key to ensure survival of the ovary. Here we present a case of an ectopic ovary presenting like an acute appendicitis.

Case presentation: A 16-year-old Cameroonian girl presented at our emergency service with an acute exacerbation of a mild and intermittent right iliac fossa pain of 5 days' duration. A clinical examination revealed android obesity and signs suggestive of an acute appendicitis. An abdominopelvic ultrasound scan showed an edematous right ovary in the canal of Nuck. A prompt hernia repair was done and her postoperative period was uneventful.

Conclusions: An ectopic inguinal ovary remains a rare occurrence. An urgent and careful exploration of the hernia sac is the standard of care. Careful physical examination of obese girls and women is vital particularly in emergency settings, as obesity in our patient contributed greatly to a missed diagnosis. Clinicians should potentially consider the possibility of an ectopic ovary when faced with girls and women presenting with right iliac fossa pain.

Keywords: Cameroon; Ectopic ovary; Inguinal hernia; Obesity.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pelvic ultrasound showing an edematous right ovary in longitudinal (left) and transverse (right) views. On the left, the ovary is superficial to the parietal peritoneum (orange arrow), and just beneath the subcutaneous tissues. On the right, the ovary is superficial to the external iliac artery (red arrow)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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