Adenomatoid tumor of the skin: differential diagnosis of an umbilical erythematous plaque

Adenomatoid tumors are benign tumors of mesothelial origin that are usually encountered in the genital tract. Although they have been observed in other organs, the skin appears to be a very rare location with only one case reported in the literature to our knowledge. We report a second case of an adenomatoid tumor, arising in the umbilicus of a 44-year-old woman. The patient presented with an 8 months old erythematous and firm plaque under the umbilicus. A skin biopsy showed numerous microcystic spaces dissecting a fibrous stroma and being lined by flattened to cuboidal cells with focal intraluminal papillary formation. This poorly known diagnosis constitutes a diagnostic pitfall for dermatopathologists and dermatologists, and could be misdiagnosed as other benign or malignant entities. Through this case report, a practical approach and diagnostic keys have been devised to avoid misdiagnosis and overtreatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.