Primary umbilical endometriosis presenting as umbilical drainage in a nulliparous and surgically naive young woman

Am J Emerg Med. 2014 Jun;32(6):692.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2013.12.024. Epub 2013 Dec 14.

Abstract

Endometriosis is well known as a chronic condition associated with significant morbidity. Umbilical endometriosis, however, may go unrecognized because of its rarity, leading to multiple medical visits and a delayed diagnosis. Chronic umbilical drainage is an unusual presentation for umbilical endometriosis. Even more unusual is the development at this location in a patient without previous abdominal surgery. There are very few published case reports about primary umbilical endometriosis. A 24-year-old nulliparous African American woman presents to the emergency department with a complaint of chronic umbilical drainage of 3-year duration and undergoes a computed tomographic scan and subspecialty referral, which lead to the diagnosis of primary abdominal wall endometriosis and a new left ovary endometrioma. Although this is an unusual occurrence, it may be considered in patients with chronic umbilical drainage without other cause.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Endometriosis / complications*
  • Endometriosis / diagnosis
  • Endometriosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Exudates and Transudates
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Umbilicus* / diagnostic imaging
  • Young Adult