Standardization of the Umbilical Scarectomy and Exploratory Laparotomy for Umbilical Mucosal Polyps

Background Umbilical mucosal polyps are common, but physicians' unfamiliarity with them can prolong the patient's illness. Furthermore, the details of surgery for umbilical mucosal polyp removal are not well documented. Methods Patients with an umbilical mucosal polyp diagnosed on the basis of the lesion's characteristic appearance were prospectively enrolled. The surgery involved an umbilical scarectomy with the removal of a minimum of the surrounding skin and an exploratory laparotomy to detect any lesions extending into the peritoneal cavity. Results Fourteen patients with a median duration of illness of ten months (range: one month to seven years) were enrolled, and 13 (92.9%) received surgery while one patient whose symptoms resolved following topical steroid treatment did not. Inspection of the intestinal mucosa of all the patients found lesions deep within the umbilicus in four (30.8%) of the 13 surgical patients, including an omphalomesenteric band, umbilical cyst, and umbilical sinus with gastric mucosa in one, one, and two patients, respectively. The postoperative course was uneventful except for one patient who had temporary granulation. Conclusions Umbilical mucosal polyps can be readily diagnosed by their characteristic appearance, thereby preventing the prolongation of illness. An umbilical scarectomy and abdominal exploration may be useful for preventing recurrences and intestinal obstruction.