Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule as a first sign of pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Sister Mary Joseph's nodule (SMJN) refers to a metastatic tumor of the umbilicus. It is a rare entity which arises from a malignancy in the intra-abdominal cavity. We herein describe a patient who presented with SMJN as his first sign of pancreatic cancer. It is an even more unusual case of SMJN. We therefore, suggest that pancreatic cancer should be included in the differential diagnosis when an umbilical mass is found. With the progress made in surgical procedures and other modalities, an early diagnosis will dramatically improve the prognosis of the patients.

A special discovery of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by Sister Mary-Joseph’s Nodule: what is the prognosis?

“…Admittedly, the NSMJ is a sign of neoplastic progression or recurrence remains a sign prognosis pejorative even suggesting the therapeutic abstention. However, some studies [11,12] , confirming our results, have led to the conclusion that early diagnosis with combined surgery-chemotherapy seems to provide a better survival response for pancreatic tumors discovered as a result of NSMJ. Doctors should know this rare and characteristic umbilical nodule correlated with a bad prognosis.…”

The Sister Joseph's Nodule Historical Perspective Presentation of a Clinical (Own) Case Discussion and Review of the Literature

“…Patients often have gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss, bloating, and nausea. The age of presentation in our patient was somewhat less than described since the average appearance is around 60 years of age [13,14].…”

Case of a Sister Mary Joseph's Nodule in a High Grade Serous Carcinoma

“…If the OM persists in adulthood, it can lead to clinical findings of a Meckel’s diverticulum, vitelline fistula or become a connection between the gastrointestinal system and umbilicus from which metastases, such as in the SMJN, can arise. The metastatic infiltration of the umbilicus is thought to be by direct invasion of the peritoneum, through lymphatic or blood vessels, or via embryonic remnants [11].…”