A Case of Schwannoma in the Inguinal Tract

Abstract

A 61-year-old woman had been consulting a gynecologist since she noticed swelling in her left inguinal region a few years ago. Because the mass had grown in the previous 10 days, she was referred to surgery for suspicion of hydrocele of the canal of Nuck. A close review of imaging exams obtained over time revealed that the mass had moved inside the inguinal canal toward the outer inguinal ring. We diagnosed the patient with hydrocele of the canal of Nuck with infection and performed surgery. The tumor was half protruding from the external inguinal ring. When the inguinal canal was opened and the tumor was detached from the surrounding tissue, a 4-cm spherical mass with fibrous cord adhered to the blue line outside the inner inguinal ring. The tumor was in contact with the uterine ligament but was not continuous, and communication with the genitofemoral nerve was unknown. Histopathological examination revealed schwannoma. Although it is difficult to identify the nerves that cause schwannomas, the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve is considered to be involved because of its change over time. In this study, we report a rare case of schwannoma in the inguinal region and provide a brief literature review.