Abstract
Introduction Frequent reporting of cases of the coexistence of a Spigelian hernia (SH) with an
undescended testis (UT) suggests that this phenomenon may be a syndrome. In this article,
four pediatric cases in which an UT accompanies a congenital SH have been discussed
in light of the literature.
Methods In this study, four cases aged between 6 months and 5 years who had a SH accompanied
by an UT were evaluated and underwent surgery.
Result The patient's ages were 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years old. The testis was
observed in the opened hernia sac. The patients did not have a gubernaculum or an
inguinal canal on the side of the hernia.
Conclusions Neither the theories suggesting that SH leads to an UT nor those suggesting that
an UT leads to a SH are satisfactory. We believe that this coexistence may be the
congenital Spigelian-cryptorchidism syndrome seen in boys. As in the four cases presented
here, elements of this syndrome are defects in the Spigelian fascia and the hernia
sac enveloping the testis and an absence of the gubernaculum and the inguinal canal.
Keywords
Spigelian hernia - undescended testis - syndrome
