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An umbilical surprise: a collective review on umbilical pilonidal sinus

An uncommon alternative diagnosis in common umbilical symptoms

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A Comment to this article was published on 29 December 2016

Abstract

Purpose

Umbilical pilonidal sinus (UPS) has an atypical clinical presentation and is therefore not well recognized. The aim of this case series and review of the literature, is to provide more insight in the underlying pathology and a guidance for the treatment of this condition.

Methods

Three recent clinical cases are described that made us perform a multi-database research was to reveal relevant literature.

Results

Three relevant clinical cases from our clinic are described. Thirth three studies, describing 463 patients were included. Most studies were case reports or series; few were case series or cohort studies. UPS develops by loose hairs getting caught in the umbilical pit and subsequently penetrate the umbilical cicatrix by friction. In this way an inflammatory response is triggered, resulting in oedema that further narrows the umbilical orifice, hence forming a sinus. Several risk factors are identified. There is no particular consensus on the treatment of this disease. Although older literature advocates immediate umbilical excision without exception, recent studies provide evidence that supports multiple courses of conservative treatment. Several cases were described in which surgery consisted of excision of the sinus and hair tufts in contrast to excision of the entire umbilicus.

Conclusions

Umbilical pilonidal disease has an atypical presentation and might mimic conditions such as incarcerated hernia, Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome or urachal cyst. Risk factors that can bring physicians closer to a reliable diagnosis are identified. An example of a treatment algorithm is provided, suggesting surgery should only be considered when conservative treatment fails.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Thomas Vissers, information expert at the Haaglanden Medical Center Medical Library, for his help in creating a decent search strategy and acquiring the relevant literature.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Haaglanden Medical Center, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, PO Box 1350, 5602 ZA Eindhoven, The Hague, The Netherlands

    J. B. Ponten

  2. Department of Surgery, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    J. E. H. Ponten, M. D. P. Luyer & S. W. Nienhuijs

Authors
  1. J. B. Ponten
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  2. J. E. H. Ponten
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  3. M. D. P. Luyer
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  4. S. W. Nienhuijs
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. E. H. Ponten.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Appendix

Appendix

Search strategy

("Umbilicus"[Mesh] OR umbili*[tw] OR navel[tw] OR omphal*[tw]) AND ("Pilonidal Sinus"[Mesh] OR pilonidal sinus*[tw] OR pilonidal cyst*[tw] OR pilonidal disease*[tw] OR pilonidal abscess*[tw] OR "sinusitis pilonidalis"[tw] OR (piloni*[ti] AND (sinu*[ti] OR cyst[ti] OR cysts[ti] OR disease*[ti] OR abscess*[ti])) OR barber's hair *[tw] OR "barbers hair sinus"[tw] OR "barber hair sinus"[tw] OR pilonidal fistula*[tw] OR sinus pilonidal*[tw] OR hair tuft*[tw] OR pilosebace*[tw] OR pilo-sebace*[tw] OR "hair bearing sinus"[tw]) AND English[lang]

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Ponten, J.B., Ponten, J.E.H., Luyer, M.D.P. et al. An umbilical surprise: a collective review on umbilical pilonidal sinus. Hernia 20, 497–504 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-016-1506-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-016-1506-6

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