Metastatic Carcinoma of the Umbilicus

Carcinomatous infiltration of the umbilical region has received very little attention in the literature, and a reader on the subject gets the impression that such an occurrence is quite rare. Within a relatively short period of time, however, I have observed four histologically proved cases of umbilical metastases in the medical wards of the Bronx Hospital. Since the umbilical area lends itself readily to biopsic study, the diagnosis of a malignant growth elsewhere may thus be made in otherwise obscure cases; furthermore, the finding of a metastatic nodule at the umbilical site almost certainly establishes the inoperability of the patient. It is the purpose of this report to emphasize the value of careful palpation of the umbilical region, especially when carcinoma is suspected. REPORT OF CASES Case 1. —A 63-year-old white woman was admitted to the medical service of Dr. Abner Stern with the chief complaints of weight loss and