SONOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION OF FEMALE INFANTS WITH INGUINAL MASSES

We present three cases of indirect inguinal hernias occuring in female infants aged between six weeks and two months, In each case ovarian t issue was identified sonographically within the herniated tissues. All cases presented with tender masses within the labia majora. This rela tively common clinical condition should be high on the list of differe ntial diagnoses of inguinal masses in female infants. Early recognitio n of an ovary decreases the risk of infarction plus the sonographic de tection of ovarian tissue is diagnostic in gender differentiation of i nfants with ambiguous genitalia.