Groin Hernias
The pelvis has several potential weak spots. The groin (inguinal) canal is one of them. The inguinal canal is wider in males as it contains testicular blood vessels and the vas. In females, the inguinal canal contains just one of the ligaments of the uterus (womb), so it is not as wide. This is why men have a nearly 25 percent lifetime risk of developing an inguinal hernia, as opposed to just a single-digit percent in women. Inguinal hernias can be repaired in a traditional open fashion or by using a minimally-invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) approach.
Another pelvis weak spot, where hernias can occur, is the femoral space. Femoral hernias are notorious for requiring emergency treatment (due to incarceration or strangulation). Femoral hernias are difficult to find during a physical examination. If a femoral or inguinal hernia is not obvious during a physical exam, your doctor may order an ultrasound study.
A dynamic groin ultrasound allows your doctor to see the hernia content moving through the inguinal canal when requesting the patient to cough or strain (so called Valsalva probe). A groin ultrasound (sonogram) is a quick and non-invasive test and does not involve exposure to radiation, as opposed to CT (“CAT scan”, computed tomography). CT scans, however, can also be necessary in cases of unclear anatomy and may help your surgeon to determine the best treatment plan.
Sometimes a lipoma of the groin canal, which represents a lump of fatty tissue, can be suspected. These lipomas can be sizable and cause discomfort. Lipomas are almost always benign masses (not cancerous). The lipoma will be removed during hernia repair.