title: Ultrasound and hookwire needle placement for localization of a hydrocele of the canal of Nuck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydrocele of the canal of Nuck is a mobile mass entity that can be difficult to locate and excise. We report the use of ultrasound scan and a hookwire needle to localize and stabilize this mass, making its excision easier.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 24-year-old white female presented with a 6-month history of a painful vulvar mass associated with increased discomfort with prolonged standing. Thorough evaluation revealed a suspected hydrocele that was easily palpable in the standing position but not in the lithotomy position. Translabial ultrasonography and a hookwire needle were used to localize and stabilize the mobile vulvar mass, eliminating the need for extensive surgical exploration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound scanning and needle localization is a useful technique to identify and stabilize a mobile mass, making its surgical excision possible without extensive exploration and trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Miklos
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Karram
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D010146:Pain; D011187:Posture; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery