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Case Reports
. 2011 Apr 4;1(1):e6.
doi: 10.4081/cp.2011.e6. eCollection 2011 Mar 29.

Sister Mary Joseph's nodule: a rare cytologic presentation

Affiliations
Case Reports

Sister Mary Joseph's nodule: a rare cytologic presentation

Kafil Akhtar et al. Clin Pract. .

Abstract

Umbilical metastasis is one of the main characteristic signs of extensive neoplastic disease and is universally referred to as Sister Mary Joseph's nodule. It indicates neoplasm of inner organs mostly located in the gastrointestinal tract or the pelvis. However, in approximately 15-30% the primary tumor remains occult. In most cases, Sister Mary Joseph's nodule appears as an early and sometimes the only symptom of the malignancy. Here we report a rare fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic diagnosis of umbilical metastasis of an ovarian carcinoma.

Keywords: FNAC.; adenocarcinoma ovary; umbilical metastasis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Gross photograph depicting circumferential umbilical erythema.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Fine needle aspiration cytology smear from umbilical site shows malignant columnar cells in acinar pattern. H & E × 400.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma: Tissue section shows sheets of columnar cells showing nuclear atypia and abundant intracellular mucin. H and E × 400.

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References

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