Canal of Nuck cyst: surgical management and lymphatic preservation in three cases
Abstract
The canal of Nuck cyst is a rare but clinically relevant pathology, often mistaken for inguinal hernias or other soft tissue anomalies. It results from the incomplete obliteration of the processus vaginalis during fetal development. In this report, we describe three cases of adult women with this condition and highlight diagnostic approaches, surgical treatment, and, crucially, the intraoperative strategy for lymphatic preservation. We emphasize the relevance of venous and lymphatic anatomy in surgical planning and propose a refined diagnostic and therapeutic framework for this under-recognized pathology.
This benign condition arises from the persistence of the processus vaginalis, an embryonic structure that normally obliterates during fetal development.
In this paper we share our experience managing three clinical cases with a comprehensive overview of the condition, including its embryology, anatomy, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic options.
Keywords
References
- Wu W-T, Chang K-V, Lin C-P, et al. Ultrasound imaging for inguinal hernia: a pictorial review. Ultrasonography 2022;41:610-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14366/usg.21192
- Kohlhauser M, Pirsch JV, Maier T, et al. The cyst of the canal of Nuck: anatomy, diagnostic and treatment of a very rare diagnosis - a case report of an adult woman and narrative review of the literature. Medicina (Kaunas) 2022;58:1353. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58101353
- Erol T, Uner MB, Karakoc D, Hamaloglu E. Cyst of the canal of Nuck: a rare cause of inguinal swelling in women. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice 2019;22:1457-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/njcp.njcp_588_18
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