Meconium peritonitis. Pathology, evolution, and diagnosis.

The diagnosis of meconium peritonitis has received little attention in the pathology literature. Morphologic features of meconium peritonitis can be confusing to the pathologist unfamiliar with this specific entity, especially in case of extraperitoneal lesions presenting clinically as tumor nodules in the tunica vaginalis. Unfamiliarity with this entity can lead to unnecessary removal of the testis. This paper describes four cases of meconium peritonitis and reviews the literature on the pathology, evolution and diagnostic features of the disease, with emphasis on the healed stage, presenting as a tumor mass in the inguinal canal or tunica vaginalis.