Metastatic carcinoma of the umbilicus

A review of the literature would lead one to believe that carcinomatous involvement of the umbilicus occurs infrequently. We suspect that this lesion is much commoner. In the last few years careful examination of the umbilicus has shown a hard indurated ring or nodule in five cases that were proven to be carcinoma on biopsy. The primary lesion was in the stomach in three cases, while the original site of the others was thought to be the ovary, although this was not confirmed. In 1916, Cullen1collected 27 cases of metastatic carcinoma of the umbilicus originating in the stomach. Since that time, sporadic reports have appeared in the literature describing metastatic lesions of the umbilicus. Lombardi and Parsons2in 1945 reviewed the literature and added a case, making 38 cases in all. Williams3cited two cases, one of which showed a primary lesion in the small intestine