Groin swelling is one of the commonest problem in general surgical practice. A groin swelling is always considered to be synonymous with a hernia. However this does not always hold true. there are a variety of other causes which present as an groin swelling.Awareness of the diferential diagnosis is therefore essential for aproper diagnosis thus preventing mismanagement. The presentation gives abroad outline of the various conditions depending upon the various areas of the groin from which the swelling arises.

1. Differential diagnosis of groin swellings
by
Dr. Ketan Vagholkar
MS, DNB, MRCS, FACS.
Consultant General Surgeon

2. DD of scrotal swellings
 Skin: boils,sebaceous cysts,
papilomas,warts
 Subcut tissues: lymph scrotum, filariasis
 Tunica vaginalis:
hydrocele,pyocele,haematocele,chylocele.
 Testis: orchitis (acute or
chronic),neoplasms.
 Epididymis: cysts, acute or chronic
infections.
 Spermatic cord: varicocele, lymph varix.

3. DD of inguinal swellings
 Inguinal hernia
 Lymph nodes
 Encysted hydrocele of the cord
 Undescended testis

4. DD of inguinoscrotal swellings
 Inguinal hernia
 Hydrocele: encysted hydrocele of the
cord,infantile hydrocele,hydrocele of the
hernial sac.
 Spermatic cord: varicocele,funiculitis,lyph
varix,diffuse lipoma of the
cord,haematoma of the cord.
 Testis: undescended,ectopic testis.

5. DD of femoral swellings
 Femoral hernia
 Lymph nodes
 Saphena varix
 Ectopic testis
 Psoas abscess

6. DD of inguinofemoral swellings
 Inguinal lymph nodes
 Distended psoas bursa
 Effusion in the hip joint