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Primary umbilical neoplasm demonstrated on FDG PET/CT
1Department of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine Service, University Hospital, UMDNJ, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. liuyl@umdnj.edu
Clinical Nuclear Medicine
|June 4, 2011
Summary
Primary umbilical neoplasm is rare, but umbilical metastases, or Sister Mary Joseph's nodules, can occur. Whole-body FDG PET/CT is crucial for diagnosing umbilical lesions and ruling out primary tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Primary umbilical neoplasms are exceedingly rare.
- Umbilical metastases, known as Sister Mary Joseph's nodules, are more commonly reported.
Observation:
- A 51-year-old male presented with a symptomatic umbilical mass.
- Histopathological examination revealed an infiltrating neoplasm with glandular and focal papillary architecture.
Findings:
- Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG PET/CT) identified abnormal uptake in the umbilicus.
- Extensive investigations including esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, and cystoscopy did not reveal a primary tumor.
- The whole-body FDG PET/CT scan was negative for a primary tumor elsewhere in the body.
Implications:
- Whole-body FDG PET/CT is an effective imaging modality for evaluating umbilical lesions.
- This imaging technique is vital for identifying or excluding a primary neoplasm in cases of umbilical masses.
- Highlights the importance of considering metastatic disease in umbilical lesions, even in the absence of an obvious primary source.
