A 50-year-old man has a painless left groin lump that appears on standing and straining and disappears on lying. It is non-tender with a cough impulse. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Reducible inguinal hernia
- Step 1: A lump that appears on straining and reduces on lying with a cough impulse is a hernia.
- Step 2: An inguinal hernia lies above and medial to the pubic tubercle.
Answer
Reducible inguinal hernia.
Why not the others: Strangulated femoral hernia presenting with colicky pain: Strangulation would be tender and irreducible. Hydrocele of the cord that transilluminates brightly: A hydrocele transilluminates and has no cough impulse. Reactive inguinal lymphadenopathy following a leg infection: Lymph nodes do not disappear on lying.
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