Lesions of the umbilicus: what the minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon needs to know about the belly button.
The umbilicus is viewed as a portal by the laparoscopic surgeon, a doorway to the real business at hand. However, the umbilicus itself may be the site of a variety of lesional conditions. Some of these may be iatrogenic, caused by prior surgical interventions, such as endometriosis or seeding of a malignant neoplasm. Some may be the initial presenting complaint. This review discusses umbilical lesions that may be encountered by the minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon.
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. hellerds@umdnj.edu
Debra S
DS
Heller
D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000473:pathology; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000473:pathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D010535:Laparoscopy; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D058288:Sister Mary Joseph's Nodule / Q000473:pathology*; D014472:Umbilicus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*