title: Large foreign body reaction to tension-free vaginal tape masquerading as inguinal hernia.
abstract: We report a case of a 73-year-old woman who presented to general surgery with a tender lump in the groin 5 years after insertion of a tension-free vaginal tape. The lesion was thought to be an incarcerated inguinal hernia. Emergency surgical exploration revealed a 7 × 5 × 4 cm soft tissue mass which was adherent to the external inguinal ring, emanating from the end of the tension-free vaginal tape at the level of the symphysis pubis. Resection and histological examination revealed a central track of granulation tissue with a surrounding foreign body inflammatory response. The surgery was complicated by an infected seroma requiring surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy, following which the patient made a full recovery. Large foreign body reaction is a rare but an important complication of tension-free vaginal tapes and may be mistaken for a groin hernia or lymphadenopathy.
authors: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW9 9NH, UK. a.vonroon@imperial.ac.uk
authors: Alexander C
authors: AC
authors: von Roon
authors: Pippa
authors: P
authors: Letchworth
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Stafford
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D053825:Suburethral Slings / Q000009:adverse effects*