Nuck Canal Endometriosis Following IVF Attempts in a Young Patient—Report of a Case

TL;DR

A 37-year-old woman with a history of IVF attempts developed endometriosis in her Nuck canal, a rare location for this condition, requiring surgical removal.

Contribution

This case report highlights Nuck canal endometriosis as a rare but important differential diagnosis in women with inguinal masses and infertility.

Findings

Endometriosis was diagnosed in the canal of Nuck following surgical excision of a painful inguinal mass.

The patient had a history of multiple IVF attempts, suggesting a possible link to infertility and endometriosis.

Surgical excision is recommended for diagnosis and symptom relief in suspected cases.

Abstract

Introduction: Endometriosis is a common benign condition affecting 10–15% of women of reproductive age. An unusual site of endometriosis is the canal of Nuck, which is a physiologically obliterated space in women spanning the area from the deep inguinal ring to the labia majora. Case presentation: A 37-year-old woman, with a past medical history of several in vitro fertilization attempts, presented with a right-sided painful inguinal mass. She was subsequently offered surgical exploration and excision of the lesion, which revealed the presence of endometrial glands and stroma. Discussion: Despite being a relatively common and benign pelvic condition, endometriosis can rarely manifest in the inguinal region, within the canal of Nuck. The treating physician should be cognizant of Nuck canal endometriosis, especially in young female patients presenting with an irreducible mass in the inguinal region and associated cyclic pain or infertility. Conclusion: When clinically and radiologically suspected, surgical excision is indicated to establish the diagnosis, provide symptomatic relief and guide further decision making.

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