First case of villous adenoma of the appendix leading to acute appendicitis presenting as strangulated femoral hernia: changes in management owing to concurrent adenoma

A 78-year-old lady presented with signs and symptoms of a strangulated femoral hernia. Peri-operatively she was found to have appendicitis within the hernia sac. Appendicectomy and non-mesh hernia repair were performed. Histology revealed acute inflammation and a villous adenoma of the appendix. Villous adenomas of the vermiform appendix are extremely rare tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. This is the first case combining two very rare pathologies—acute appendicitis presenting as strangulated femoral hernia and villous adenoma of the appendix. Early diagnosis and surgery are required to avoid high morbidity of perforated appendicitis within a femoral hernia. First, we discuss the diagnosis and surgical treatment of acute appendicitis within a femoral hernia. Second, the presence of an adenoma changes the aetiology of appendicitis. More importantly, changes in surgical management of acute appendicitis presenting as a strangulated femoral hernia owing to a co-existing adenoma are discussed.