Umbilical endometriosis: a case series
Dorothy Makena1, Timona Obura2, Steve Mutiso2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi, P.O. Box, Nairobi, 30270-00100, Kenya. dorothy.makena@aku.edu.
Journal of Medical Case Reports
|September 7, 2020
Summary
Umbilical endometriosis, a rare condition, presents as cyclical pain and bleeding from an umbilical nodule. Surgical excision is the recommended treatment, with a low risk of malignancy.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Dermatology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Endometriosis involves endometrial tissue outside the uterus, commonly in the pelvis but also extrapelvic sites.
- Umbilical endometriosis (Villar's node) is a rare form (0.5-1% of extrapelvic endometriosis), often causing cyclical umbilical pain and bleeding.
- This condition requires consideration in differential diagnoses for umbilical lesions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case series of African patients with umbilical endometriosis.
- To highlight clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes.
- To emphasize the rarity and diagnostic considerations of this condition.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series of five African patients diagnosed and treated between July 2015 and February 2019.
- Patients aged 31-47 years presented with umbilical swelling and pain.
- Diagnosis based on clinical presentation, confirmed by histopathology after surgical excision.
Main Results:
- Five patients with umbilical endometriosis were treated.
- Lesion diameters ranged from 1.6 to 4 cm; symptom duration varied from 3 to 60 months.
- Histopathology confirmed diagnosis in all cases, with no malignancy detected.
Conclusions:
- Umbilical endometriosis is a rare differential diagnosis for women with umbilical lesions.
- Clinical presentation (swelling, cyclical pain, bleeding/discharge) is key; imaging has limited utility.
- Surgical excision is the primary treatment, associated with low risks of malignancy or recurrence.
