Can Adults Get Umbilical Granulomas?
No, umbilical granulomas are exclusively a neonatal and infant condition that does not occur in adults. This is a pediatric entity that develops after umbilical cord separation in the newborn period.
What Umbilical Granulomas Actually Are
Umbilical granulomas are the most common umbilical abnormality in neonates and infants, characterized by overgrowth of granulation tissue that persists at the base of the umbilical cord after its separation 1, 2, 3.
Histologically, these lesions consist of granulation tissue composed of fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, and vascular endothelial cells set in an edematous stroma 2.
Approximately 12% occur in infancy, and 42% present during the first 5 years of life 4, 5.
Most fail to epithelialize spontaneously and persist for more than 2 months without treatment 1.
Why This Matters Clinically
If an adult presents with an umbilical lesion, it is NOT an umbilical granuloma and requires thorough investigation to rule out other pathology 3.
In adults, umbilical nodules or growths must be carefully inspected and investigated to exclude hidden malignancy, as metastatic deposits can present at the umbilicus 3.
Benign tumors are more common than metastatic deposits in umbilical lesions overall, but the differential diagnosis in adults is completely different from the pediatric population 3.
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not misdiagnose adult umbilical lesions as "granulomas" - this term in adults typically refers to pyogenic granulomas (which can occur at any age and any body site) or other pathologic processes, not the neonatal umbilical granuloma entity 4, 5.
Adult umbilical lesions require histopathological evaluation to establish the correct diagnosis, as the spectrum of possibilities includes infection, benign tumors, and malignancy 3.