04/08/2025
1. Grey Turner's Sign
🔹 Definition:
Bluish or purplish discoloration (bruising) of the flanks (sides of the abdomen).
🔹 Cause:
It indicates retroperitoneal bleeding, most commonly due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, trauma, or ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
🔹 Time of appearance:
Usually appears 24–48 hours after the bleeding begins.
🔹 Clinical importance:
It is a serious sign and often associated with high mortality.
2. Cullen’s Sign
🔹 Definition:
Bluish or purplish discoloration around the umbilicus (belly button).
🔹 Cause:
Suggests intra-abdominal bleeding, commonly due to:
Acute pancreatitis
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Trauma or ruptured spleen/liver
🔹 Time of appearance:
Also appears after 24–48 hours of bleeding.
🔹 Clinical importance:
It's a warning sign for internal hemorrhage and requires urgent evaluation.
3. Chain of Lakes Sign
🔹 Definition:
This is a radiological sign seen on CT or MRCP, where the pancreatic duct appears beaded or segmented—like a chain of lakes.
🔹 Cause:
It occurs in chronic pancreatitis due to fibrosis and alternating dilated and narrowed ducts.
🔹 Clinical importance:
Indicates long-standing pancreatic damage, usually due to alcohol use or recurrent inflammation.
4. Colon Cut-off Sign
🔹 Definition:
On abdominal X-ray or CT scan, gas is seen in the proximal colon (especially up to the splenic flexure), but no gas beyond it.
🔹 Cause:
Associated with acute pancreatitis, where inflammation causes local spasm or paralysis of bowel near the pancreas.
🔹 Clinical importance:
Suggests pancreatic irritation affecting the colon—important in diagnosing acute pancreatitis
