Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule revealing an ovarian adenocarcinoma: A case report

Abstract

Introduction: Sister Mary Joseph nodule is an eponymous term for a malignant metastatic umbilical nodule. It is a rare but important physical finding because it is indicative of advanced malignancy. The primary tumor is usually an adenocarcinoma, rarely a squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, or sarcoma. Case Report: We report the clinical case of a 64-year-old woman with metastatic ovarian adenocarcinoma and umbilical cutaneous metastasis. The diagnosis was established upon the umbilical node biopsy in April 2020, after the patient presented with an abdominal distension and respiratory difficulties. Conclusion: Umbilical skin metastases are rare, and they are associated with advanced metastatic disease and a very poor prognosis. Through this work we try to clarify the mechanisms and the prognosis of this rare manifestation, and put the point on the importance of an early diagnosis.