Significance of ultrasonography in the assessment of patients with a groin mass: a large, single-center case series

Abstract

Aim: There is a concern that the differential diagnosis of a groin mass depends on a physicians’ subjective judgment and experience. We aimed to clarify the significance of US in the diagnosis of a groin mass.Material and methods: This retrospective study included 1,898 patients who underwent US examination of a groin mass. Physicians’ diagnoses were compared with US-based diagnoses. Furthermore, the incidence of asymptomatic contralateral hernia was analyzed. The frequency of unnecessary surgery in patients with and without preoperative US was compared. In 1,451 patients who underwent surgery with preoperative US, the preoperative US classification was compared with surgical diagnosis.Results: Of 1,805 patients diagnosed with an inguinal hernia by physicians, 190 (10.5%) exhibited no US findings of inguinal hernia. US revealed asymptomatic contralateral hernia in 13.3% of the 1,543 patients in whom a physician detected unilateral inguinal hernia. The frequency of unnecessary surgery was significantly associated with preoperative US (1/1451; 0% vs. 2/351, 0.6%; p=0.0382). The overall US diagnostic accuracy for the inguinal hernia type was 92.7%.Conclusions: US imaging of a groin mass can help avoid unnecessary surgery, detect latent inguinal hernia, and guide surgical planning.

A Single-Center Study on Clinico-Radiological Evaluation of Inguino-Scrotal or Labial Swellings Presenting to a Tertiary Care Set-Up in Central India

“…Vinoth et al [ 17 ] reported a case of unusual inguino-labial swellings in an adult female, highlighting the significance of radiological evaluation in atypical inguino-scrotal/labial swellings. Kojima et al [ 18 ] demonstrated the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography findings in inguinal hernia surgeries. In the current study, a case of sliding Amyand hernia was observed, wherein the caecum formed one of the sac's walls, and the appendix, omentum, and undescended testis comprised its contents.…”

Differential diagnoses of inguinal swellings: a case series of atypical diagnoses

“…Most of these tumors are squamous cell carcinomas, with other cancer types such as malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma being less common [ 4 ]. Metastasis of penile cancer to other organs such as the bladder, prostate, and intestine has been described [ 2 ]. In patients with penile cancer, enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes is often observed, which can be attributed to either metastases or infectious lymphadenitis.…”

“…For example, Kojima et al . [ 2 ] highlight the importance of ultrasound examination in assessing patients with a groin mass, noting that such examination can help avoid unnecessary surgeries and identify latent inguinal hernias. Another report by Hwang et al.…”