Cyst of the canal of Nuck (female hydrocele)

Abstract

We here report the case of a 06-year old girl treated for Kawasaki disease admitted with right tender and painful inguinal swelling. Ultrasound images suggested cystic lymphangioma. TDM showed fluid-filled mass in the right iliac fossa (RIF) in contact with the external iliac vessels, the sigmoid colon and a few small bowel loops extending downward from a dehiscence of the inguinal canal into the large lip. It had localized thickening of the wall measuring 5 mm in thickness at the level of the inguinal orifice. The diagnosis of cyst of the canal of Nück (female hydrocele) was retained and surgically confirmed (Figure 1). The cyst of the canal of Nück is caused by incomplete closure of the canal, resulting in fibrous vestigial structure of the peritoneal-vaginal duct which connects the peritoneal cavity with the large lip. This usually closes at birth or during the first month of life, with resultant formation of a cystic lesion bordered by mesothelium, which is predominantly flattened and sometimes hyperplastic, located in the anterosuperior portion of the large lips and/or the inguinal canal. Surgical treatment for cyst of the canal of Nück is the same as for hernia.