Inguinal ovarian hernia (95%): Presents as labial mass
Intraabdominal ectopia: Incidental or iatrogenic
Nonstandard ovarian location is common & usually incidental (due to long ovarian ligaments)
Nonpelvic location is sometimes seen after numerous or complex abdominopelvic surgeries
Ovarian transposition is sometimes performed to preserve fertility prior to radiation therapy
Retroperitoneal location is extremely rare
IMAGING
General Features
Ultrasonographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Rosa F et al: How embryology knowledge can help radiologists in the differential diagnosis of canal of Nuck pathologies. Radiol Med. 126(7):910-24, 2021
Morabito G et al: A young girl with right ovarian torsion and left ovarian ectopy. Ital J Pediatr. 46(1):51, 2020
Chan D et al: Canal of Nuck hernias. Acta Radiol Open. 8(12):2058460119889867, 2019
Jedrzejewski G et al: Nuck canal hernias, typical and unusual ultrasound findings. Ultrasound Q. 35(1):79-81, 2019
Thomas AK et al: Canal of Nuck abnormalities. J Ultrasound Med. 39(2):385-95, 2019
Turkgeldi L et al: Laparoscopic ovarian transposition and ovariopexy for fertility preservation in patients treated with pelvic radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 11(3):235-42, 2019
Arian SE et al: Ovarian transposition: a surgical option for fertility preservation. Fertil Steril. 107(4):e15, 2017
Castro AD et al: Ectopic ovary with torsion: uncommon diagnosis made by ultrasound. Radiol Bras. 50(1):60-1, 2017
Moawad NS et al: Laparoscopic ovarian transposition before pelvic cancer treatment: ovarian function and fertility preservation. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 24(1):28-35, 2017
Sameshima YT et al: The challenging sonographic inguinal canal evaluation in neonates and children: an update of differential diagnoses. Pediatr Radiol. 47(4):461-72, 2017
Karadeniz Cerit K et al: Inguinal hernia containing uterus, fallopian tube, and ovary in a premature newborn. Case Rep Pediatr. 807309, 2015
Kollia P et al: True ectopic ovary in the right iliac fossa mimicking acute appendicitis and associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 40(3):858-61, 2014
Webb JB et al: The management of an ectopic ovary in the inguinal canal: literature review and discussion. Pediatr Surg Int. 30(10):1075-8, 2014
Yang DM et al: Ultrasonographic diagnosis of ovary-containing hernias of the canal of Nuck. Ultrasonography. 33(3):178-83, 2014
Aydin R et al: Gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasound imaging findings of an ovarian inguinal hernia and torsion of the herniated ovary: a case report. Pediatr Emerg Care. 29(3):364-5, 2013
Cascini V et al: Irreducible indirect inguinal hernia containing uterus and bilateral adnexa in a premature female infant: report of an exceptional case and review of the literature. J Pediatr Surg. 48(1):e17-9, 2013
Irtan S et al: Ovarian transposition in prepubescent and adolescent girls with cancer. Lancet Oncol. 14(13):e601-8, 2013
Demirel F et al: Inguinal ovary as a rare diagnostic sign of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 25(3-4):383-6, 2012
Ming YC et al: Inguinal hernia containing uterus and uterine adnexa in female infants: report of two cases. Pediatr Neonatol. 52(2):103-5, 2011
Uyar I et al: Ectopic ovary confirmed by ovarian stimulation in a case of unicornuate uterus. Fertil Steril. 96(2):e122-4, 2011
Osifo OD et al: Inguinal hernia in Nigerian female children: beware of ovary and fallopian tube as contents. Hernia. 13(2):149-53, 2009
Related Anatomy
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
Inguinal ovarian hernia, canal of Nuck hernia
Definitions
Ectopic ovary: Abnormally located ovary
Inguinal ovarian hernia (95%): Presents as labial mass
Intraabdominal ectopia: Incidental or iatrogenic
Nonstandard ovarian location is common & usually incidental (due to long ovarian ligaments)
Nonpelvic location is sometimes seen after numerous or complex abdominopelvic surgeries
Ovarian transposition is sometimes performed to preserve fertility prior to radiation therapy
Retroperitoneal location is extremely rare
IMAGING
General Features
Ultrasonographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Rosa F et al: How embryology knowledge can help radiologists in the differential diagnosis of canal of Nuck pathologies. Radiol Med. 126(7):910-24, 2021
Morabito G et al: A young girl with right ovarian torsion and left ovarian ectopy. Ital J Pediatr. 46(1):51, 2020
Chan D et al: Canal of Nuck hernias. Acta Radiol Open. 8(12):2058460119889867, 2019
Jedrzejewski G et al: Nuck canal hernias, typical and unusual ultrasound findings. Ultrasound Q. 35(1):79-81, 2019
Thomas AK et al: Canal of Nuck abnormalities. J Ultrasound Med. 39(2):385-95, 2019
Turkgeldi L et al: Laparoscopic ovarian transposition and ovariopexy for fertility preservation in patients treated with pelvic radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 11(3):235-42, 2019
Arian SE et al: Ovarian transposition: a surgical option for fertility preservation. Fertil Steril. 107(4):e15, 2017
Castro AD et al: Ectopic ovary with torsion: uncommon diagnosis made by ultrasound. Radiol Bras. 50(1):60-1, 2017
Moawad NS et al: Laparoscopic ovarian transposition before pelvic cancer treatment: ovarian function and fertility preservation. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 24(1):28-35, 2017
Sameshima YT et al: The challenging sonographic inguinal canal evaluation in neonates and children: an update of differential diagnoses. Pediatr Radiol. 47(4):461-72, 2017
Karadeniz Cerit K et al: Inguinal hernia containing uterus, fallopian tube, and ovary in a premature newborn. Case Rep Pediatr. 807309, 2015
Kollia P et al: True ectopic ovary in the right iliac fossa mimicking acute appendicitis and associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 40(3):858-61, 2014
Webb JB et al: The management of an ectopic ovary in the inguinal canal: literature review and discussion. Pediatr Surg Int. 30(10):1075-8, 2014
Yang DM et al: Ultrasonographic diagnosis of ovary-containing hernias of the canal of Nuck. Ultrasonography. 33(3):178-83, 2014
Aydin R et al: Gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasound imaging findings of an ovarian inguinal hernia and torsion of the herniated ovary: a case report. Pediatr Emerg Care. 29(3):364-5, 2013
Cascini V et al: Irreducible indirect inguinal hernia containing uterus and bilateral adnexa in a premature female infant: report of an exceptional case and review of the literature. J Pediatr Surg. 48(1):e17-9, 2013
Irtan S et al: Ovarian transposition in prepubescent and adolescent girls with cancer. Lancet Oncol. 14(13):e601-8, 2013
Demirel F et al: Inguinal ovary as a rare diagnostic sign of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 25(3-4):383-6, 2012
Ming YC et al: Inguinal hernia containing uterus and uterine adnexa in female infants: report of two cases. Pediatr Neonatol. 52(2):103-5, 2011
Uyar I et al: Ectopic ovary confirmed by ovarian stimulation in a case of unicornuate uterus. Fertil Steril. 96(2):e122-4, 2011
Osifo OD et al: Inguinal hernia in Nigerian female children: beware of ovary and fallopian tube as contents. Hernia. 13(2):149-53, 2009
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