Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma: A Concern in Inguinal Hernia Repair

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Radiology

Background:

• Retroperitoneal sarcomas rarely present with continuous growth into the scrotum through the inguinal canal.
• This presentation can mimic scrotal hernia, complicating initial diagnosis and management.

Observation:

• A case of a 57-year-old male with a groin swelling initially suspected as scrotal hernia is presented.
• Intraoperative findings revealed a large retroperitoneal mass, necessitating advanced imaging (CT, MRI) for diagnosis.
• A systematic literature review of ten similar cases was conducted.

Findings:

• Histological analysis confirmed a well-differentiated liposarcoma with clear resection margins.
• The patient achieved complete clinical remission 22 months post-surgery.

Implications:

• Preoperative suspicion of retroperitoneal involvement is critical for surgical planning.
• Unclear cases require extended preoperative diagnostic workup to ensure optimal patient management and prognosis.
• This highlights the importance of considering rare differential diagnoses in groin swellings.