title: Spigelian-cryptorchidism syndrome: a case report and discussion of the basic elements in a possibly new congenital syndrome.
abstract: Pediatric cases of Spigelian hernias are rare. Only a few reports on this condition, in combination with ipsilateral cryptorchidism and testis in the hernia sac, have been published. We report on Spigelian hernia in a 3-week-old boy containing both the ipsilateral testis, without a gubernaculum and an incarcerated loop of the small intestine. It has been suggested that the combination of Spigelian hernia and ipsilateral cryptorchidism is part of a new syndrome. We discuss whether the lack of a gubernaculum and an inguinal canal reported in other similar cases may be additional elements of this new syndrome. We present a comprehensive overview of pediatric patients with Spigelian-cryptorchidism syndrome reported in the English language literature. In 75% of male infants with Spigelian hernia, there is an associated ipsilateral cryptorchidism, and in 87% of these patients, the testis is found inside the hernia sac. Thus, the surgeon dealing with a congenital Spigelian hernia should look for an undescended testis and be prepared to find it in the hernia sac.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway. ch-rushf@online.no
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rushfeldt
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oltmanns
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vonen
mesh_terms: D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery