[Advanced ovarian cancer with Sister Mary Joseph's nodule--a case report]

A metastatic umbilical tumor,which we call Sister Mary Joseph's nodule (SMJN), is a sign of poor prognosis despite the primary site of malignant tumor. We describe here a patient with an advanced ovarian cancer and SMJN. A 51-year-old woman was referred to our department for evaluation of an umbilical tumor. As a result of systemic examination, the patient was diagnosed as stage IV ovarian cancer and rapidly underwent an optimal operation. Postoperatively, the chemotherapy for advanced ovarian tumors was begun (paclitaxel 180 mg/m(2) and carboplatin AUC 5, 10 courses every 3 weeks). The patient is well without signs of tumor recurrence or metastasis 10 months after the operation. Forty percent of all navel neoplasms are malignant tumors. It is important to perform a pathological examination of a navel neoplasm or a systemic examination as fast as possible.