29th September 2021

A 9-year-old boy presents with his mother to the GP

A 9-year-old boy presents with his mother to the GP. He has a 2cm diameter lump in his inguinal region. He is not in pain but thinks it could be growing and is self-conscious of its appearance. He notices it more when standing upright and when he opens his bowels. His mother takes you to one side and says she’s scared it could be cancer. Besides the lump with a positive cough impulse, a thorough abdominal examination is unremarkable. The lump is reducible and remains reduced with palpation of the patient’s deep inguinal ring. What is the most likely explanation for this boy’s inguinal lump?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.