title: An acute groin lump: surgical exploration is not always the best option.
abstract: This is a case of a very unusual cause of an acute groin lump in a 71-year-old woman that was presumed initially to either be an incisional or inguinal hernia. However, with subsequent computed tomography it was shown to be thrombophlebitis of collateral vessels secondary to a previous  deep vein thrombosis. This case demonstrates how surgical exploration of acute groin lumps is not without its dangers.
authors.affiliation: Antrim Area Hospital, Antrim, UK. phildavey@doctors.net.uk
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Byrnes
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications*