Omphalomesenteric duct remnants: umbilical versus umbilical cord lesions

Differential diagnosis of umbilical polyps and granulomas in children: sonographic and pathologic correlations

Purpose

The sonographic differential diagnosis of umbilical polyps and granulomas in children based on correlations with pathologic findings.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the ultrasonographic findings of twenty-two umbilical masses in children that were pathologically confirmed as umbilical polyps or umbilical granulomas by surgery. We analyzed size, depth, echogenicity, internal content, intralesional vascularity, and the presence of unobliterated medial umbilical ligament. Pathologic correlation was performed for all of the umbilical masses.

Results

Twenty-two masses consisted of eight umbilical polyps and fourteen umbilical granulomas. The mean age of the children with umbilical polyps was 30.13 months (range, 2 to 108 months) and it was 1.33 months (range, 0.6 to 3 months) for the children with umbilical granulomas. The average mass sizes were 10.25 mm (range, 5 to 35 mm) for umbilical polyps and 6.21 mm (range, 3 to 10 mm) for umbilical granulomas. The umbilical polyps were manifested as cystic lesions with thick echogenic walls in five patients (62.5%), which were associated with the intestinal mucosa (four lesions) and ectopic pancreatic tissue (one lesion) on pathology. Umbilical granulomas were superficially located in 13 (92.9%) and solid in thirteen (92.9%), which correlated with prominent granulation tissues on pathology. Seven (87.5%) of the eight umbilical granulomas were hypervascular and correlated with neovascularization on pathologic examination.

Conclusion

The umbilical polyps revealed deep-seated, hypovascular nodules with cyst formation surrounded by thick echogenic walls. In contrast, the umbilical granulomas revealed superficially located hypervascular hypoechoic solid nodules in young infants.

Dermoscopic findings of umbilical granuloma

Dermoscopic findings in umbilical granuloma are vascular polymorphism comprised of linear irregular and arborizing vessels with structureless areas distributed over a milky-red background. The increase of angiogenesis and neovascularization is represented by the linear irregular and arborizing vessels. Structureless areas over an irregularly milky-red background are originated by the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts, with capillary and granulation tissue formation.

Cutaneous presentations of omphalomesenteric duct remnant: A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Disorders of the umbilicus are commonly seen in infancy, including hernias, infections, anomalies, granulomas, and malignancies. Meticulous inspection of the umbilicus at birth might reveal a persisting embryonic remnant, such as an omphalomesenteric duct (OMD), manifested by a variety of cutaneous signs, such as an umbilical mass, granulation tissue, or discharge.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the available data regarding the presence and management of OMD remnant with cutaneous involvement to suggest a practical approach for diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature evaluating OMD anomalies presenting with cutaneous symptoms was performed. In addition, an index case of an 11-month-old patient is presented.

RESULTS

We included 59 publications reporting 536 cases; 97% of the patients whose age was noted were infants (mean age 11 months). In 7.5% of the cases, diagnosis was established only after treatment failure. In 6.4% of patients, nonlethal complications were reported, and in 10.3%, the outcome was death, partly due to delayed diagnosis or mismanagement.

LIMITATIONS

Limited quality of the collected data, reporting bias.

CONCLUSION

OMD is relatively rare; however, the clinician must consider this remnant while examining patients with umbilical abnormalities because mismanagement could cause severe morbidity and mortality.

Umbilical Granuloma in a 2-Month-Old Patient: Histopathology of a Common Clinical Entity

Umbilical granulomas are the most common anomaly of the umbilicus in neonates and infants. These lesions are characterized by an overgrowth of granulation tissue that persists at the base of the umbilical cord after its separation. Histologically, they consist of granulation tissue, which is composed of fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, and vascular endothelial cells set in an edematous stroma. Although umbilical granulomas are commonly seen clinically, there are no reports of their histopathology in the literature. The authors present the histology of this clinical finding in a 2-month-old infant, as it is important for the pathologist to be aware of this benign entity and distinguish it from other umbilical anomalies that may be of greater clinical significance.