Primary umbilical endometriosis – A rare presentation of cutaneous endometriosis

Abstract

Primary umbilical endometriosis is a rare condition with an overall incidence of around 0.5% to 1% among all the endometriosis cases, but at times it poses a diagnostic dilemma. In our institution we encountered a case of primary umbilical endometriosis presented to multiple surgical speciality departments. A prompt clinical examination with surgical biopsy was the key tool which lead to the diagnosis and providing a complete cure for the patient. Pelvic endometriosis affects 5-10% of women in the child bearing age group. The most pronounced symptoms are dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and infertility. Clinical presentations of umbilical endometriosis are as a nodule with or without associated umbilical pain and bleeding. This patient was given primary hormonal therapy and later underwent a biopsy which paved way for an accurate diagnosis of primary umbilical endometriosis. In this case of umbilical swelling, conditions like a benign nevus, lipoma, abscess, cyst, hernia, as well as metastatic deposit from a systemic malignancy were considered in the clinical differential diagnosis. However surgical excision helped us arrive at a definitive diagnosis and cure for the patient.