A review of five patients who presented during a 3-year period with sarcoma arising in the inguinal canal demonstrated that the lesion is frequently mistaken for a hernia. In three of the patients incomplete excision of the inguinal mass resulted in spread of the lesion beyond the inguinal canal. The authors suggest that neoplastic lesions discovered in the inguinal canal should be evaluated by a small incisional biopsy followed by wide resection if sarcoma is confirmed on pathological examination. Preoperative irradiation and re-excision should be considered if widespread microscopic disease remains after excisional biopsy.