Biomaterial Database

CT of inguinal canal lipomas and fat-containing inguinal hernias. 2011

Shadley Fataar

Medical Imaging Department, Coffs Harbour Health Campus, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. shadley.fataar@ncahs.health.nsw,gov.au

Inguinal canal lipomas are a frequent, often unrecognised finding on abdominopelvic CT. Commonly referred to as spermatic cord or round ligament lipomas, they are not true tumours of fat but are extrusions of extraperitoneal fat into the inguinal canal. Their fat content and shared location in the inguinal canal result in confusion with fat-containing inguinal hernias with which they often coexist. As laparoscopic herniorrhaphies proliferate, greater awareness of the condition by radiologists is needed to provide accurate preoperative information. This pictorial essay highlights the differentiating diagnostic features of inguinal canal lipomas and fat-containing inguinal hernias.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007264	Inguinal Canal	The tunnel in the lower anterior ABDOMINAL WALL through which the SPERMATIC CORD, in the male; ROUND LIGAMENT, in the female; nerves; and vessels pass. Its internal end is at the deep inguinal ring and its external end is at the superficial inguinal ring.	Inguinal Ring,Canal, Inguinal,Canals, Inguinal,Inguinal Canals,Inguinal Rings,Ring, Inguinal,Rings, Inguinal
D008067	Lipoma	A benign tumor composed of fat cells (ADIPOCYTES). It can be surrounded by a thin layer of connective tissue (encapsulated), or diffuse without the capsule.	Fatty Tumor,Hibernoma,Lipoma, Pleomorphic,Atypical Lipoma,Lipomata,Lipomatosis, Multiple,Atypical Lipomas,Fatty Tumors,Hibernomas,Lipoma, Atypical,Lipomas,Lipomas, Atypical,Lipomas, Pleomorphic,Lipomatas,Lipomatoses, Multiple,Multiple Lipomatoses,Multiple Lipomatosis,Pleomorphic Lipoma,Pleomorphic Lipomas,Tumor, Fatty,Tumors, Fatty
D008297	Male		Males
D005260	Female		Females
D005833	Genital Neoplasms, Female	Tumor or cancer of the female reproductive tract (GENITALIA, FEMALE).	Gynecologic Neoplasms,Female Genital Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Female Genital,Neoplasms, Gynecologic,Female Genital Neoplasm,Genital Neoplasm, Female,Gynecologic Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Female Genital,Neoplasm, Gynecologic
D005834	Genital Neoplasms, Male	Tumor or cancer of the MALE GENITALIA.	Male Genital Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Male Genital,Genital Neoplasm, Male,Male Genital Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Male Genital
D006552	Hernia, Inguinal	An abdominal hernia with an external bulge in the GROIN region. It can be classified by the location of herniation. Indirect inguinal hernias occur through the internal inguinal ring. Direct inguinal hernias occur through defects in the ABDOMINAL WALL (transversalis fascia) in Hesselbach's triangle. The former type is commonly seen in children and young adults; the latter in adults.	Inguinal Hernia,Inguinal Hernia, Direct,Inguinal Hernia, Indirect,Direct Inguinal Hernia,Direct Inguinal Hernias,Hernia, Direct Inguinal,Hernia, Indirect Inguinal,Hernias, Direct Inguinal,Hernias, Indirect Inguinal,Hernias, Inguinal,Indirect Inguinal Hernia,Indirect Inguinal Hernias,Inguinal Hernias,Inguinal Hernias, Direct,Inguinal Hernias, Indirect
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012404	Round Ligament of Uterus	A fibromuscular band that attaches to the UTERUS and then passes along the BROAD LIGAMENT, out through the INGUINAL RING, and into the labium majus.	Ligamentum Teres Uteri,Ligamentum Teres Uterus,Uterus Round Ligament,Uterus Round Ligaments
D013085	Spermatic Cord	Either of a pair of tubular structures formed by DUCTUS DEFERENS; ARTERIES; VEINS; LYMPHATIC VESSELS; and nerves. The spermatic cord extends from the deep inguinal ring through the INGUINAL CANAL to the TESTIS in the SCROTUM.	Funiculus Spermaticus,Cord, Spermatic,Cords, Spermatic,Spermatic Cords