Giant right groin lipoma mimicking inguinal hernia

INTRODUCTION: Groin lipoma is a rare condition. Such localization may lead to erroneous interpretation of inguinal hernia diagnosis. In case of incorrect diagnosis, there is clinically high risk for development of intraoperative complications. METHODS: The medical history of 70-year old female patient P., who has been hospitalized at Surgical Department No.1 of Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University (Surgical Department of Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital), was processed retrospectively. RESULT: Medical case history totals approximately 20 years. Examination in the right groin revealed a tumor falling to the right labia lip: soft, elastic, moderately painful, passive and active reduction into the abdominal cavity was impossible, and the “cough impulse” symptom was negative. CT correctly diagnosed giant right groin lipoma, which was intraoperatively confirmed. CONCLUSION: Lipoma in the groin may be treated as inguinal hernia. Thus, for the accurate verification of correct diagnosis, it is necessary to perform a follow-up examination involving computer tomography (CT) and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).