Case Report Endometriosis within a left-sided inguinal hernia sac

Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disorder wherein ectopic endometrial glands and stroma are found at extrauterine sites. Extrapelvic endometriosis is a well-documented, yet rare, disease entity that can affect almost any organ system. Inguinal endometriosis is an extremely rare disease entity characterized by tender inguinal swelling. Here we report a case of a sudden-onset and acutely painful left inguinal hernia with concordant endometriosis. A review of the literature is presented. The presence of isolated endometriosis contained within a left-sided inguinal hernia sac has, to our knowledge, never been reported. Often diagnosed inci-dentally or on histologic examination, general surgeons should consider inguinal endometriosis in the differential diagnosis of inguinal masses, even in the absence of catamenial symptoms. Surgical excision, with gynecologic follow-up, is locally curative and the treatment of choice for inguinal endometriosis. CASE REPORT A 23-year-old healthy female was admitted to our hospital with a new-onset tender bulge in her left groin, associated with subjective fevers and chills. Four days prior to presenta-