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Canal of Nuck abnormalities are a rare but important cause of morbidity in girls, most often those younger than 5 years of age. The canal of Nuck, which is the female equivalent of the male processus vaginalis, is a protrusion of parietal peritoneum that extends through the inguinal canal and terminates in the labia majora. The canal typically obliterates early in life, but in some cases the canal can partially or completely fail to close, potentially resulting in a hydrocele or hernia of pelvic contents. Recognition of this entity is especially important in cases of ovarian hernia due to the risk of incarceration and torsion. We aim to increase awareness of this condition by reviewing the embryology, anatomy and diagnosis of canal of Nuck disorders with imaging findings on US, CT and MRI using several cases from a single institution.

Bulging of the inguinal region is a frequent complaint in the pediatric population and sonographic findings can be challenging for radiologists. In this review we update the sonographic findings of the most common disorders that affect the inguinal canal in neonates and children, with a focus on the processus vaginalis abnormalities such as congenital hydroceles, indirect inguinal hernias and cryptorchidism, illustrated with cases collected at a quaternary hospital during a 7-year period. We emphasize the importance of correctly classifying different types of congenital hydrocele and inguinal hernia to allow for early surgical intervention when necessary. We have systematically organized and illustrated all types of congenital hydrocele and inguinal hernias based on embryological, anatomical and pathophysiological findings to assist readers in the diagnosis of even complex cases of inguinal canal ultrasound evaluation in neonates and children. We also present rare diagnoses such as the abdominoscrotal hydrocele and the herniation of uterus and ovaries into the canal of Nuck.

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare but aggressive malignancy in children and adolescents. Prognosis is related to initial tumor resectability as well as staging of the disease based on tumor invasiveness, tumor bulk, nodal disease and metastases. We report the unusual presentation of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma with metastatic extension through the inguinal canal and encasement of the abdominal aorta. These features portend a poor prognosis given their association with a greater stage of disease and unresectable nature at presentation. Delayed surgical resection follows a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in such cases of extensive disease. Encasement of the abdominal aorta has been shown to increase presurgical risk for intraoperative vascular injury when related to other malignancies, but its role in relation to metastatic paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma has not been investigated. Also, rhabdomyosarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnoses of tumors that demonstrate encasement of the abdominal aorta.

Background Transinguinal sonography can be used to demonstrate the position of the femoral head after reduction of a dislocated hip. Objective To determine whether transinguinal sonography can replace radiography and CT in the follow-up after reduction of a hip dislocation? Materials and methods Thirty-three children with 39 dislocated hips were followed up with sonography after reduction and immobilization in a spica cast. In cases of an abnormal position a CT scan was advised. A pelvic radiograph at the end of treatment served as an indicator that no dislocations were missed during the previous sonographic examinations. Results The repositioned hips were examined on 138 occasions. Twenty-four examinations were abnormal and CT scanning was performed on 11 occasions. In four children additional CT was done because a recurrent dislocation was suspected or because sonography was difficult to perform. No dislocations were demonstrated. In five children a recurrent dislocation was suspected, on one or more occasions. In all but one child a CT scan was performed that confirmed the dislocation. Conclusion Transinguinal sonography is well-suited to demonstrate a normal position of the femoral head in a spica cast. Transinguinal sonography decreases the number of radiographs and CT scans and reduces the exposure to ionizing radiation.

Background: Misplacement of percutaneously inserted central venous catheters (PCVCs) into the paraspinal venous plexus can result in devastating outcomes. Several cases have been reported in the literature together with an explanation of the mechanism. Objective: To describe three premature babies with their PCVCs inserted through the left saphenous vein that ended up in the lumbar spinal dural venous plexus. Results: Plain radiographs obtained to check positions showed an unusual 360° curl of the PCVC in the left inguinal area. Conclusion: We believe that misplacement of the catheter into the paraspinal venous plexus could be diagnosed with great accuracy if such a curl is seen.

Crossed testicular ectopia is a rare anomaly, characterised by migration of one testis towards the opposite inguinal canal. In most reported cases, the correct diagnosis was not made pre-operatively. We report a case of transverse testicular ectopia diagnosed pre-operatively with MRI. MRI and MR venography demonstrated unilateral location of both testes in the right inguinal canal, which was confirmed by surgery. We provide a brief literature review of transverse testicular ectopia and the imaging of undescended testis.

Hernia of the canal of Nuck is a rare condition occurring in female infants. The canal of Nuck is a portion of the processus vaginalis of the peritoneum within the inguinal canal. The processus vaginalis is an evagination of parietal peritoneum of the embryonic lower anterior abdominal wall that passes into the inguinal canal. Normally, it loses its connection with the peritoneal cavity, but when it fails to close a hydrocele or hernia may result. We present a 2-month-old girl with a palpable movable mass in the right inguinal region. Ultrasonography revealed a hernia containing uterus and ovary. Ultrasonography is the examination of choice in female infants with a pathological mass in the groin. Its availability and accuracy facilitate diagnosis and proper surgical treatment.

We report a case of testicular torsion in the left inguinal canal of a 7 month old with a history of cryptorchism and no evidence of neuromuscular disease. We discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms, sonographic findings, and treatment of this rare entity.

We report a rare type of hourglass-shaped hydrocele in an infant, which extended through the inguinal canal with a large intra-abdominal component. This entity is important to recognize in a patient with scrotal swelling and an ipsilateral abdominal mass. The incidence of abdominoscrotal hydrocele may be higher than previously reported.

Background. Colour Doppler sonography (CDS) has become the procedure of choice in evaluating testicular perfusion but false negative findings have been reported. Objective. To determine if direct visualisation of the twisted spermatic cord using high resolution US is a reliable sign to assess testicular torsion. Material and methods. Thirty patients (aged 2–26 years) with equivocal diagnosis of testicular torsion prospectively underwent high resolution and CDS. The results were correlated with surgical findings. Serial transverse and longitudinal scans were performed to compare the scrotal contents on each side and study the complete spermatic cord course, from inguinal canal to testis, to detect a spiral twist. Results. In 14 of the 23 cases of torsion, the diagnosis was based on the colour Doppler findings in the scrotum because blood flow was absent in the symptomatic testis and detectable without difficulty on the normal side. In nine cases, CDS was unreliable; in six cases intratesticular perfusion was present in a twisted testis and in three small boys, no colour signal was obtained in either testis. In all cases of torsion, the spiral twist of spermatic cord was detected at the external inguinal ring. The twist induced an abrupt change in spermatic cord course, size and shape below the point of torsion. It appeared in the scrotum as a round or oval, homogeneous or heterogeneous extratesticular mass with or without blood flow, that could be connected cephalad with the normal inguinal cord. In the other seven cases (three late torsions of the appendix testis, one epididymo-orchitis and three torsions with spontaneous reduction), no spiral twist was detectable. Conclusion. The detection of spermatic cord spiral twist appears a reliable US sign of torsion whatever the testicular consequences.

A case of ureteral herniation into the inguinal canal is reported in a 6 week old boy with a solitary functioning kidney.