An Unusual Cause of Inguinal Hernia in a Male Patient: Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an ectopic endometrium, commonplaced in the female. But its occurence in the man is mysterious. In the literature two cases of endometriosis in men have occured following surgery. The present case is the first reported arising in the inguinal region, near the ductus deference. Forty-nine years old man was presented to hospital with left inguinal hernia. He was operated from that area for 3 times, before. Furthermore he has unexplained infertility. His physical examination revealed normal external genitelia. He underwent surgical operation for hernia. In the operation, a mass was discovered beside the spermatic cord and sent to our laboratory. Macroscopically the mass was 8×7×6 cm in diameters (Fig. 1). In dissection cystic cavity was seen and beside it, ductus deferens was identified. Cyst wall was containing small lumens that was thought as small vessels. In microscopic examination, cyst was lined with columnar epithelial cells and simple tubular invaginations showing the same type of cell lining, and cellular stroma, with typical features of endometrial mucosa. In addi-