Background: Umbilical metastasis (Sister Mary Joseph's nodule) is a rare physical sign seen only in 1-3 % of patients with an intra-abdominal and/or pelvic malignancy. Here, we present a case of Sister Mary Joseph's (SMJN) nodule originating from a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the endometrium, a rare histological subtype.
Case history: SMJN was detected in a 30-year-old woman after a preoperative CT scan for a suspected umbilical hernia. Subsequent laparotomy and histopathological examination confirmed endometrial squamous cell carcinoma metastasizing to the umbilical region.
Conclusion: The SMJN may be the first presenting sign of an intra-abdominal and/or pelvic malignancy and may co-exist with an umbilical hernia. Therefore, malignancy should be considered one of the differentials of an umbilical mass.