umbilical discolouration

Last reviewed 01/2018

Umbilical discolouration can be:

  • a blue tinge caused by dilated tortuous veins: - caput medusae - a sign of portal hypertension

  • yellow blue bruising: - Cullen's sign - a sign of acute pancreatitis

  • bruising at the umbilicus: - may caused by a massive long-standing haemoperitoneum, e.g. following the haemorrhage of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy