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Encysted hydrocele of the canal of Nuck

Case contributed by Khalid Alhusseiny
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Recent right inguinal pain on top of chronic right inguinal swelling.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Female
ultrasound

Cystic lesion with fine internal septa is seen at the level of the superficial inguinal ring. Few foci of vascularity are seen around the lesion.

Right inguinal cystic lesion is seen related to the round ligament. It shows fluid signal and mild marginal post-contrast enhancement suggesting associated infection (explaining the recent onset of pain).

Case Discussion

The canal of Nuck is a small peritoneal pouch attached to the uterus by the round ligament. It resembles the processus vaginalis in male. It normally disappears without a trace in the first year of life.

Unobliterated canal of Nuck can predispose to indirect inguinal hernia or hydrocele of the canal of Nuck. Hydrocele of the canal of Nuck is a rare disease that occurs in the inguinal area or labium and usually presents early in life.

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