[Idiopathic entrapment neuropathy of the ilio-inguinalis nerve--a differential diagnosis in inguinal pain].

We report the case of a 41-year old man, who developed leftsided and later rightsided inguinal pain radiating to the scrotum within three months. There was also sensory disturbance in the supply area of the left ilioinguinal nerve. No surgical procedures in the inguinal region had been done, so that we supposed an idiopathic entrapment neuropathy of the ilioinguinal nerve. Infiltration with local anesthetics resolved the complaints on the left side completely. On the right side neurolysis was necessary, to ablate symptoms. The entrapment neuropathy of the ilioinguinal nerve--often called ilioinguinal-syndrome--is a relevant differential diagnosis of inguinal pain. Anatomy, pathology, clinical presentation and therapy of this syndrome are discussed in the article. Knowledge of this syndrome prevents unnecessary investigation.