Cysts of a permeable vaginal process or cysts of Nuck are a rare entity in women and have a similar embryologic and etiologic origin as that of inguinal hernias. They should be considered a differential diagnosis when an inguinal mass is present or during a diagnostic laparoscopy in which a peritoneal defect or open inguinal ring is found. We report the case of a woman with a cyst of Nuck that presented as a recurrent inguinal hernia. Discussion is centered on the embryologic, anatomic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of this condition.