A case of heterotopic endometriosis presented with an umbilical tumor

Abstract

A 48–year–old woman, who had noticed a tumor at the navel in 2004 which had gradually become large with occasional mild pain as well as several episodes of pus discharge, was seen at the hospital in October 2006. A 2cm–sized hard tumor was palpated right under the umbilicus. Abdominal ultrasonograpy, CT scan, and MRI scan revealed a 3 x 2cm solid tumor right under the umbilicus, but it was difficult to make the definite diagnosis preoperatively. The diagnosis of heterotopic endometriosis was made based on histopathological findings.
Although endometriosis arisen in the skin or subcutaneous structure of the umbilicus is relatively uncommon, the disease must be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis for an umbilical tumor in female patients.