Mark A. Marinella, MD, FACP

Examination of the abdomen is an important element of the physical examination, especially in patients with known or suspected cancer. Patients with intraabdominal malignancy occasionally manifest unusual ominous findings on abdominal examination that may portend a poor prognosis: periumbilical adenopathy (Sister Mary Joseph sign),1 hepatic pulsations,2 or a hepatic friction rub or bruit.3 An uncommonly reported, and likely under‐appreciated, sign of intraabdominal cancer is periumbilical ecchymosis, also known as Cullen's sign.4 Reported below is a case of Cullen's sign associated with metastatic esophageal carcinoma.

CASE REPORT

An 80‐year‐old man with recently diagnosed esophageal adenocarcinoma presented with fever, cough, lassitude, and abdominal distention. Several weeks earlier, the patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for dysphagia and weight loss and was found to have a partially obstructing, ulcerated distal esophageal mass. Biopsy revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. At that time, computed tomography showed mediastinal adenopathy Subsequently, the patient developed increasing dysphagia with a cough, painful abdominal distention, and profound weight loss and was admitted to the hospital for further evaluation.

The patient was tachycardic and hypotensive. Physical examination revealed muscle wasting, anasarca, and abdominal distention with diffuse tenderness. An area of periumbilical ecchymosis measuring approximately 10 cm in diameter was noted. The patient had not sustained any obvious abdominal trauma or received any injections in the periumbilical area. There were no other significant ecchymoses on the abdominal wall, including the flanks. Computed tomography revealed pulmonary infiltrates compatible with pneumonia, mediastinal adenopathy, thickening of the distal esophagus, and ascites; there were no obvious liver lesions, pancreatic or retroperitoneal hemorrhage, or evidence of pancreatitis. Liver enzymes, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase were normal, but anemia and leukocytosis were noted. Prothombin time and partial thromboplastin time were 20 and 28 seconds, respectively. Platelet count was normal. Broad‐spectrum antimicrobials were administered for pneumonia. Because of abdominal discomfort, paracentesis was performed. Approximately 2000 cc of opaque yellow fluid was removed. The ascitic fluid was positive for erythrocytes and adenocarcinoma cells, consistent with his known diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma. The patient developed acute renal failure, and his condition continue to decline. He subsequently was discharged to hospice care and died several days later; an autopsy was not performed.

DISCUSSION

Cullen's signecchymosis surrounding the umbilicusis classically associated with hemorrhagic pancreatitis, often occurring in conjunction with ecchymosis of the flank (Grey‐Turner sign).4 Cullen's sign, however, has been reported with other abdominal pathologies such as ruptured ectopic pregnancy, leaking aortic aneurysm, splenic rupture, and retroperitoneal hemorrhage.4, 5 Hemoperitoneum from any of these processes leads to diffusion of blood along fascial planes, resulting in flank staining (Grey‐Turner sign) or periumbilical staining (Cullen's sign). Cullen's sign, however, is traditionally not attributed to malignant disease in standard medical and surgical texts.6, 7 However, the results of a Medline literature search, which revealed only a handful of case reports, suggests an association between advanced malignancy and Cullen's sign (Table 1). All previous reports oc‐curred in patients with advanced terminal malignancy, although no firm conclusions regarding specific malignancies or other risk factors can be surmised from such a small number of cases.5, 8, 9

Our patient had stage IV esophageal carcinoma with malignant ascites associated with periumbilical ecchymosis. Unfortunately, serum amylase and lipase were not obtained, but acute pancreatitis‐induced Cullen's sign is unlikely because the patient did not have symptoms of pancreatitis and computed tomography did not reveal pancreatic inflammation or hemorrhage. It is well known that patients with disseminated visceral adenocarcinoma can develop coagulopathy, and that cannot be excluded in our patient. The likely mechanism of periumbilical blood collection is unclear but could relate to subclinical hemoperitoneum from mesenteric and peritoneal carcinomatosus, abdominal wall trauma, or coagulopathy from cancer and acute renal failure. Nonetheless, it is evident from this and previously reported cases that Cullen's sign complicating cancer has a dismal prognosis and is a premorbid sign. Clinicians should consider occult or metastatic visceral malignancy in patients with unexplained abdominal wall ecchymosis.

Examination of the abdomen is an important element of the physical examination, especially in patients with known or suspected cancer. Patients with intraabdominal malignancy occasionally manifest unusual ominous findings on abdominal examination that may portend a poor prognosis: periumbilical adenopathy (Sister Mary Joseph sign),1 hepatic pulsations,2 or a hepatic friction rub or bruit.3 An uncommonly reported, and likely under‐appreciated, sign of intraabdominal cancer is periumbilical ecchymosis, also known as Cullen's sign.4 Reported below is a case of Cullen's sign associated with metastatic esophageal carcinoma.

CASE REPORT

An 80‐year‐old man with recently diagnosed esophageal adenocarcinoma presented with fever, cough, lassitude, and abdominal distention. Several weeks earlier, the patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for dysphagia and weight loss and was found to have a partially obstructing, ulcerated distal esophageal mass. Biopsy revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. At that time, computed tomography showed mediastinal adenopathy Subsequently, the patient developed increasing dysphagia with a cough, painful abdominal distention, and profound weight loss and was admitted to the hospital for further evaluation.

The patient was tachycardic and hypotensive. Physical examination revealed muscle wasting, anasarca, and abdominal distention with diffuse tenderness. An area of periumbilical ecchymosis measuring approximately 10 cm in diameter was noted. The patient had not sustained any obvious abdominal trauma or received any injections in the periumbilical area. There were no other significant ecchymoses on the abdominal wall, including the flanks. Computed tomography revealed pulmonary infiltrates compatible with pneumonia, mediastinal adenopathy, thickening of the distal esophagus, and ascites; there were no obvious liver lesions, pancreatic or retroperitoneal hemorrhage, or evidence of pancreatitis. Liver enzymes, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase were normal, but anemia and leukocytosis were noted. Prothombin time and partial thromboplastin time were 20 and 28 seconds, respectively. Platelet count was normal. Broad‐spectrum antimicrobials were administered for pneumonia. Because of abdominal discomfort, paracentesis was performed. Approximately 2000 cc of opaque yellow fluid was removed. The ascitic fluid was positive for erythrocytes and adenocarcinoma cells, consistent with his known diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma. The patient developed acute renal failure, and his condition continue to decline. He subsequently was discharged to hospice care and died several days later; an autopsy was not performed.

DISCUSSION

Cullen's signecchymosis surrounding the umbilicusis classically associated with hemorrhagic pancreatitis, often occurring in conjunction with ecchymosis of the flank (Grey‐Turner sign).4 Cullen's sign, however, has been reported with other abdominal pathologies such as ruptured ectopic pregnancy, leaking aortic aneurysm, splenic rupture, and retroperitoneal hemorrhage.4, 5 Hemoperitoneum from any of these processes leads to diffusion of blood along fascial planes, resulting in flank staining (Grey‐Turner sign) or periumbilical staining (Cullen's sign). Cullen's sign, however, is traditionally not attributed to malignant disease in standard medical and surgical texts.6, 7 However, the results of a Medline literature search, which revealed only a handful of case reports, suggests an association between advanced malignancy and Cullen's sign (Table 1). All previous reports oc‐curred in patients with advanced terminal malignancy, although no firm conclusions regarding specific malignancies or other risk factors can be surmised from such a small number of cases.5, 8, 9

Our patient had stage IV esophageal carcinoma with malignant ascites associated with periumbilical ecchymosis. Unfortunately, serum amylase and lipase were not obtained, but acute pancreatitis‐induced Cullen's sign is unlikely because the patient did not have symptoms of pancreatitis and computed tomography did not reveal pancreatic inflammation or hemorrhage. It is well known that patients with disseminated visceral adenocarcinoma can develop coagulopathy, and that cannot be excluded in our patient. The likely mechanism of periumbilical blood collection is unclear but could relate to subclinical hemoperitoneum from mesenteric and peritoneal carcinomatosus, abdominal wall trauma, or coagulopathy from cancer and acute renal failure. Nonetheless, it is evident from this and previously reported cases that Cullen's sign complicating cancer has a dismal prognosis and is a premorbid sign. Clinicians should consider occult or metastatic visceral malignancy in patients with unexplained abdominal wall ecchymosis.

Examination of the abdomen is an important element of the physical examination, especially in patients with known or suspected cancer. Patients with intraabdominal malignancy occasionally manifest unusual ominous findings on abdominal examination that may portend a poor prognosis: periumbilical adenopathy (Sister Mary Joseph sign),1 hepatic pulsations,2 or a hepatic friction rub or bruit.3 An uncommonly reported, and likely under‐appreciated, sign of intraabdominal cancer is periumbilical ecchymosis, also known as Cullen's sign.4 Reported below is a case of Cullen's sign associated with metastatic esophageal carcinoma.

CASE REPORT

An 80‐year‐old man with recently diagnosed esophageal adenocarcinoma presented with fever, cough, lassitude, and abdominal distention. Several weeks earlier, the patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for dysphagia and weight loss and was found to have a partially obstructing, ulcerated distal esophageal mass. Biopsy revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. At that time, computed tomography showed mediastinal adenopathy Subsequently, the patient developed increasing dysphagia with a cough, painful abdominal distention, and profound weight loss and was admitted to the hospital for further evaluation.

The patient was tachycardic and hypotensive. Physical examination revealed muscle wasting, anasarca, and abdominal distention with diffuse tenderness. An area of periumbilical ecchymosis measuring approximately 10 cm in diameter was noted. The patient had not sustained any obvious abdominal trauma or received any injections in the periumbilical area. There were no other significant ecchymoses on the abdominal wall, including the flanks. Computed tomography revealed pulmonary infiltrates compatible with pneumonia, mediastinal adenopathy, thickening of the distal esophagus, and ascites; there were no obvious liver lesions, pancreatic or retroperitoneal hemorrhage, or evidence of pancreatitis. Liver enzymes, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase were normal, but anemia and leukocytosis were noted. Prothombin time and partial thromboplastin time were 20 and 28 seconds, respectively. Platelet count was normal. Broad‐spectrum antimicrobials were administered for pneumonia. Because of abdominal discomfort, paracentesis was performed. Approximately 2000 cc of opaque yellow fluid was removed. The ascitic fluid was positive for erythrocytes and adenocarcinoma cells, consistent with his known diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma. The patient developed acute renal failure, and his condition continue to decline. He subsequently was discharged to hospice care and died several days later; an autopsy was not performed.

DISCUSSION

Cullen's signecchymosis surrounding the umbilicusis classically associated with hemorrhagic pancreatitis, often occurring in conjunction with ecchymosis of the flank (Grey‐Turner sign).4 Cullen's sign, however, has been reported with other abdominal pathologies such as ruptured ectopic pregnancy, leaking aortic aneurysm, splenic rupture, and retroperitoneal hemorrhage.4, 5 Hemoperitoneum from any of these processes leads to diffusion of blood along fascial planes, resulting in flank staining (Grey‐Turner sign) or periumbilical staining (Cullen's sign). Cullen's sign, however, is traditionally not attributed to malignant disease in standard medical and surgical texts.6, 7 However, the results of a Medline literature search, which revealed only a handful of case reports, suggests an association between advanced malignancy and Cullen's sign (Table 1). All previous reports oc‐curred in patients with advanced terminal malignancy, although no firm conclusions regarding specific malignancies or other risk factors can be surmised from such a small number of cases.5, 8, 9

Our patient had stage IV esophageal carcinoma with malignant ascites associated with periumbilical ecchymosis. Unfortunately, serum amylase and lipase were not obtained, but acute pancreatitis‐induced Cullen's sign is unlikely because the patient did not have symptoms of pancreatitis and computed tomography did not reveal pancreatic inflammation or hemorrhage. It is well known that patients with disseminated visceral adenocarcinoma can develop coagulopathy, and that cannot be excluded in our patient. The likely mechanism of periumbilical blood collection is unclear but could relate to subclinical hemoperitoneum from mesenteric and peritoneal carcinomatosus, abdominal wall trauma, or coagulopathy from cancer and acute renal failure. Nonetheless, it is evident from this and previously reported cases that Cullen's sign complicating cancer has a dismal prognosis and is a premorbid sign. Clinicians should consider occult or metastatic visceral malignancy in patients with unexplained abdominal wall ecchymosis.