Incidental Diagnosis of Metastatic Prostate Cancer Post-Inguinal Hernia Repair

Am Surg. 2022 Mar;88(3):552-553. doi: 10.1177/00031348211047172. Epub 2021 Oct 6.

Abstract

This report discusses the case of an 83-year-old male who was incidentally found to have a diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer on pathology from elective inguinal hernia repair. The medical record, radiology, operative reports, and pathology of the patient were reviewed and a literature search was subsequently performed. A new cancer diagnosis is a very rare finding during routine hernia surgery. Moreover, the decision of whether to send a hernia sac for routine pathology is often dependent on individual surgeon practices and institutional guidelines. However, this case demonstrates the potential for an unexpected finding on routine pathology to significantly alter the clinical course of a patient's care as the patient subsequently underwent both medical and palliative surgical treatment for prostate cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Elective Surgical Procedures
  • Hernia, Inguinal / pathology
  • Hernia, Inguinal / surgery*
  • Herniorrhaphy / methods
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Male
  • Palliative Care
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / surgery