The use of a prosthetic mesh plug during inguinal hernia repair may be mistaken for inguinal mass or lymphadenopathy, especially if the patient is known for cancer (overstaging of malignancy), which exposes the patient to unnecessary workup or even surgery.

The radiologist, as well as the surgeon, should be familiar with these normal postoperative CT findings. The surgical history of inguinal hernia repair will certainly help the radiologist in the interpretation of such findings.

Additional contributor: A. Ramdani, MD