An acute groin lump: surgical exploration is not always the best option.

This is a case of a very unusual cause of an acute groin lump in a 71-year-old woman that was presumed initially to either be an incisional or inguinal hernia. However, with subsequent computed tomography it was shown to be thrombophlebitis of collateral vessels secondary to a previous deep vein thrombosis. This case demonstrates how surgical exploration of acute groin lumps is not without its dangers.