title: Large Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma Diagnosed upon Radiological Evaluation of Mild Right-Sided Inguinal Hernia.
abstract: While inguinal hernia is common in the primary care office, the differential diagnosis is extensive and includes infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic processes. Varicocele is another frequent, generally benign condition which occasionally reflects serious disease entities. Left-sided or bilateral varicoceles account for the overwhelming majority of varicoceles because the left gonadal vein drains into the left renal vein in contrast to the right gonadal vein, which drains directly into the inferior vena cava, thus making left-sided or bilateral venous congestion more likely. Presence of an uncommon unilateral right-sided varicocele thus warrants further radiological workup, in particular CT abdomen and pelvis, to evaluate for retroperitoneal pathology. We describe a case in which appropriate use of a variety of imaging modalities including testicular ultrasound and CT led to an important diagnosis of a large, well-differentiated liposarcoma in the right retroperitoneum of a patient with a right-sided groin mass.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Peabody Society, 260 Longwood Avenue, TMEC 253, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Sophia K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: McKinley
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Peabody Society, 260 Longwood Avenue, TMEC 253, Boston, MA 02115, USA ; Department of Pathology, Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School, 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patalas
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Peabody Society, 260 Longwood Avenue, TMEC 253, Boston, MA 02115, USA ; Department of Radiology, Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School, 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chang