Littre's hernia in infancy presenting as undescended testicle

Abstract

Littre's hernia is defined as any hernial sac which contains a Meckel's diverticulum. It has been reported in association with inguinal, umbilical, femoral, sciatic, ventral, and lumbar hernias. This hernia is rare, particularly in children, in whom the umbilical variety is reported by some to be most common. Littre's hernia is difficult to diagnose, but should be suspected in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, incompletely reducible hernias, and fecal hernial fistulas. It may be confused with cryptorchidism when Meckel's diverticulum adheres to and envelops the testicle making palpation of the gonad difficult. Recommended treatment is resection of the Meckel's diverticulum from within the opened hernial sac followed by herniorrhaphy.