Acute appendicitis in a femoral hernia: an unusual presentation of a groin mass¹

Abstract 

Although most groin masses are simple hernias, occasionally these hernias contain more than just small intestine. Femoral hernias, which are less common than inguinal, are more often found in females. Stomach, omentum, colon, or an appendix each has been reported to be contained in a femoral hernia. Having an acutely inflamed appendix contained in a femoral hernia sac in a male is extraordinarily rare. We report a case of acute appendicitis contained in a femoral hernia of a 76 year old man. This entity presents much like an incarcerated hernia, and differentiating the two can lead to changes in the surgical management.

Keywords:  femoral hernia, acute appendicitis, review

• 1 Clinical Communications is coordinated by Ron Walls, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts