Incarcerated sigmoid colon cancer in an inguinal hernia sac associated with an abdominal wall abscess: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background An inguinal hernia is a common disease; however, a malignant tumor within the inguinal hernia sac is rare, and perforated colon cancer in the hernia sac is extremely rare. Case presentation A 73-year-old man presented to our hospital with high fever and painful bulging of the lower abdomen. Computed tomography showed air-containing fluid in the abdominal wall, as well as localized wall thickness of the sigmoid colon in the left groin. An emergency operation revealed a huge subcutaneous abscess and a hard mass of the sigmoid colon within an indirect inguinal hernia sac. Sigmoidectomy and hernia repair using the Marcy method were performed. Lymph node dissection was performed through a transrectal abdominal incision. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma invading the serosal layer with lymph node metastasis. Conclusions Incarcerated inguinal hernia with perforated colon cancer is rare; an emergent operation should accordingly be performed based on infection control, oncological principles, and secure hernia repair.

Keywords

• Colorectal cancer
• Inguinal hernia
• Abscess