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Case Reports
. 2022 Sep:98:107515.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2022.107515. Epub 2022 Aug 17.

Revisiting the clinico-radiological features of an unusual inguino-labial swelling in an adult female

Affiliations
Case Reports

Revisiting the clinico-radiological features of an unusual inguino-labial swelling in an adult female

T Vinoth et al. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Introduction: Processus vaginalis in females or the canal of Nuck was first described by the Dutch anatomist Anton Nuck in 1691 (Ranschaert and Worsley, n.d.; Brainwood et al., 2020 [1,2]). Its patency after birth predisposes to congenital presentations like hydroceles, encysted hydroceles and hernias presenting as an unusual inguino-labial swelling. It gets obliterated by first year of life and hence anomalies related to its patency in adult hood are even rare. It is hence important to be familiar with the clinico-radiological aspects of such a presentation when it is encountered.

Case report: Case presentation is of an adult woman of 36 years with hydrocele of the canal of Nuck.

Discussion: We proceed to discuss the clinico-radiological features and variations of this entity in our case report.

Conclusion: In conclusion, differential diagnosis of female inguino-labial swellings need detailed evaluation to exclude the possibility of rare entities.

Keywords: Fluctuation; Hydrocele of canal of Nuck; Inguinolabial swelling; Patent processus vaginalis; Transillumination.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest in preparing this article. The SCARE list has been adhered to in the preparation of this manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Right inguino-labial swelling.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Demonstration of positive transillumination test.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Ultrasound picture showing cyst in the canal of Nuck with septae.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Also having a demonstrable extension of diameter 5 mm, through the deep inguinal ring.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Showing intra-operative picture of proximal end communicating with the peritoneal cavity.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Distal ‘cyst within cyst’, septated cysts.

References

    1. E. Ranschaert C. Worsley Hydrocele of the Canal of Nuck. Reference Article, Radiopaedia.org. doi:10.53347/rID-11074.
    1. Brainwood Michelle, Beirne Geraldene, Fenech Michelle. Persistence of the Processus Vaginalis and its Related Disorders AJUM. 23 (1) February 2020. pp. 1–5. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Agha R.A., Franchi T., Sohrabi C., Mathew G., for the SCARE Group The SCARE 2020 guideline: updating Consensus Surgical CAse REport (SCARE) guidelines. Int. J. Surg. 2020;84:226–230. - PubMed
    1. NourahAL Saleh, AbdulrahmanAL Maghrabi, Banaja Abdulaziz. Hydrocele of the canal of nuck. J Pediatr Surg Case Rep. February 2018;29:36–38.
    1. Choi K.H., Baek H.J. Incarcerated ovarian herniation of the canal of nuck in a female infant: ultrasonographic findings and review of literature. Ann. Med. Surg. (Lond.) 2016;9:38–40. - PMC - PubMed

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