Bilateral saccular inguinal hernias in an elderly woman presenting with advanced ovarian cancer

BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Jan 27:2014:bcr2013202337. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-202337.

Abstract

We present a case of an elderly woman presenting with bilateral groin hernias, one reducible and the other irreducible. CT of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated an irreducible left inguinal hernia containing an incarcerated loop of transverse colon together with saccular metastatic tumour spread. Disseminated omental disease and ascitic fluid were noted throughout the peritoneal cavity secondary to ovarian carcinoma. As a consequence of extensive malignant disease and advanced age, the patient was treated conservatively and subsequently died a number of weeks later. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second case of bilateral inguinal hernias presenting in a woman with a background of disseminated ovarian malignancy. This case highlights the importance of pre-reduction imaging in atypical complex cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Hernia, Inguinal / complications*
  • Hernia, Inguinal / diagnosis
  • Hernia, Inguinal / therapy
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / complications*
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / therapy
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / complications*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
  • Palliative Care
  • Radiography, Abdominal
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed