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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2012; 18(45): 6686-6689
Published online Dec 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i45.6686
Published online Dec 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i45.6686
Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule as a first sign of pancreatic cancer
Xue-Li Bai, Qi Zhang, Waqas Masood, Noman Masood, Yin Tang, Chun-Hui Cao, Qi-Han Fu, Yun Zhang, Shun-Liang Gao, Ting-Bo Liang, Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Bai XL and Liang TB designed the research; Zhang Q, Tang Y, Cao CH and Fu QH performed the research; Zhang Y and Gao SL discussed the clinical features of the disease; Bai XL, Zhang Q, Masood W and Masood N wrote the paper.
Supported by National Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar, No. 30925033; National Natural Science Funds of China, No. 30801101 and No. 81171884; Innovation and High-Level Talent Training Program of Department of Health of Zhejiang
Correspondence to: Ting-Bo Liang, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China. liangtingbo@zju.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-571-87315006 Fax: +86-571-87315006
Received: July 18, 2012
Revised: September 3, 2012
Accepted: September 12, 2012
Published online: December 7, 2012
Revised: September 3, 2012
Accepted: September 12, 2012
Published online: December 7, 2012
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.
Keywords: Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule; Pancreatic cancer; Umbilical metastasis; Diagnosis; Management