Sister Mary Joseph's nodule as a first sign of pancreatic cancer

World J Gastroenterol. 2012 Dec 7;18(45):6686-9. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i45.6686.

Abstract

Sister Mary Joseph's nodule (SMJN) refers to a metastatic tumor of the umbilicus. It is a rare entity which arises from a malignancy in the intra-abdominal cavity. We herein describe a patient who presented with SMJN as his first sign of pancreatic cancer. It is an even more unusual case of SMJN. We therefore, suggest that pancreatic cancer should be included in the differential diagnosis when an umbilical mass is found. With the progress made in surgical procedures and other modalities, an early diagnosis will dramatically improve the prognosis of the patients.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Management; Pancreatic cancer; Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule; Umbilical metastasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Biopsy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Sister Mary Joseph's Nodule / diagnosis*
  • Sister Mary Joseph's Nodule / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Umbilicus / pathology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor