Articles
Articles are a collaborative effort to provide a single canonical page on all topics relevant to the practice of radiology. As such, articles are written and continuously improved upon by countless contributing members. Our dedicated editors oversee each edit for accuracy and style. Find out more about articles.
33 results found
Article
Sea anemone sign
The sea anemone sign is a unique (but not wholly exclusive) appearance seen in ovarian serous surface papillary borderline tumors (SSPBT). It refers to its surface stroma frequently branches into exophytic papillary stalks, macroscopically 1.
Radiographic features
On cross-sectional imaging, p...
Article
Cookie bite bone metastases
Cookie bite bone metastases are characterized by small focal eccentric lytic external cortical destruction in long tubular bones. This type of destruction is typically described for metastases from lung cancer, however, they can also occur with other tumors.
Article
Endosteal scalloping
Endosteal scalloping refers to the focal resorption of the inner layer of the cortex (i.e. the endosteum) of bones, most typically long bones, due to slow-growing medullary lesions 1.
It is important to note that although it is evidence of a slow non-infiltrative lesion, it does not equate to b...
Article
Lollipop sign (hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma)
The lollipop sign is seen in hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE). It represents hepatic/portal vein and/or their tributaries/branches tapering and terminating at or just within the edge of a well defined peripherally enhancing (or non-enhancing) lesion with an avascular core on CT or...
Article
Raccoon eyes sign (base of skull fracture)
Raccoon eyes sign (or panda eyes in the UK and Ireland) refers to periorbital ecchymosis with sparing of the tarsal plate 3 and is a physical examination finding indicative of a base of skull fracture of the anterior cranial fossa.
However it is not pathognomonic for trauma, and there are sever...
Article
Pleural pointillism
Pleural pointillism is multiple high signal regions on b=1000 diffusion-weighted imaging but not at lower b-values. It can be a reliable tool allowing differentiation of malignant from benign pleural lesions and can help guide biopsy 1-3. Its sensitivity is reported to be 93-100% and specificit...
Article
Volcano sign (meningioma)
Volcano sign refers to the appearance of classical meningioma that resembels the appearance of volcano (viewed in cross-section MRI, parallel to dural attachment) in which there is triangular hyperostosis at the base of the meningioma (mountain) with the tumor being the cloud around it. The intr...
Article
Curtain sign (vertebral body mass)
The curtain sign, also known as the draped curtain sign, in neuroimaging refers to the appearance of a vertebral body mass that extends posteriorly towards the anterior epidural space.
The posterior longitudinal ligament is strongly attached to the posterior vertebral body cortex in the midline...
Article
Fascicular sign
The fascicular sign is a finding on T2-weighted MRI images that suggests a lesion of neurogenic origin. It is characterized by multiple small ring-like structures with peripheral hyperintensity representing the fascicular bundles within the nerves.
It is found in various neurogenic tumors, incl...
Article
Bunch of grapes sign (disambiguation)
Bunch of grapes sign refers to the imaging appearance of multiple cystic spaces or lesions and it has been described for multiple pathologies:
bunches of grapes sign (hepatic abscess) 8
bunch of grapes sign (botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma) 5
bunch of grapes sign (bronchiectasis) 3
bunch of grapes...
Article
Apple core sign (colon)
The apple core sign, also known as the napkin ring sign (bowel), is most frequently associated with constriction of the lumen of the colon by a stenosing annular colorectal carcinoma.
It is not to be confused with the napkin ring sign of vulnerable coronary artery plaque or the apple core sign ...
Article
Hemorrhage exclusion sign (prostate)
The hemorrhage exclusion sign can be a useful MRI finding following prostate biopsy.
Pathology
The normal prostate produces high concentrations of citrate, which among other properties, acts as an anticoagulant 1. As tumor cells are dysfunctional, they will produce lower levels of citrate than...
Article
Pool sign (intracranial; metastatic adenocarcinoma)
The pool sign describes the brain MRI appearance whereby an intracranial mass exhibits a T2 hyperintense rim adjacent to a solid mass surrounded by peritumoral edema. This appearance has suggested to be a feature characteristic of metastatic adenocarcinoma (with various primaries).
The "pool" p...
Article
Cone-shaped cecum (differential)
A cone-shaped cecum refers to a loss of the normal rounded appearance of the cecum, which instead becomes narrow and cone-shaped with the apex pointing towards the base of the appendix. It is encountered in a number of conditions including:
inflammatory
infective
blastomycosis
amoebiasis
Ye...
Article
Halo sign (osseous)
The halo sign in bone imaging refers to the presence of a hyperintense rim around an osseous lesion on T2-weighted MRI, which is highly suggestive of a metastatic lesion, rather than a primary malignancy 1.
Article
Stipple sign (transitional cell carcinoma)
The stipple sign refers to the pointillistic end-on appearance on intravenous pyelography or retrograde pyelography of contrast material tracking into the interstices of a papillary lesion. Because the majority of transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) have a papillary configuration, the presence of...
Article
Sunburst appearance (bone)
Sunburst or sunray appearance describes two separate findings in the bone: a periosteal reaction and a trabeculation pattern. It should not be confused with the sunburst sign of meningioma vascularity.
Sunburst periosteal reaction
Sunburst periosteal reaction reflects aggressive periostitis. ...
Article
Pyrexia
Pyrexia (or fever) is a clinical sign, indicated by an abnormally elevated core body temperature, which is defined by several medical societies as ≥38.3°C (≥≈101°F). The temperature elevation may be persistent or episodic. If the body temperature is greater than 41.5°C - a rare phenomenon - it i...
Article
Bloomy rind sign (leptomeningeal metastases)
The bloomy rind sign is a radiological sign appreciated on MRI brain that is rarely but characteristically described in patients with leptomeningeal metastases (leptomeningeal carcinomatosis).
The sign describes the appearance of a curvilinear T2/FLAIR hyperintensity on the brainstem surface, t...
Article
Finger clubbing
Finger clubbing, also called "drumstick fingers" or Hippocratic fingers, is a common clinical sign mainly seen in patients with heart or lung disease. The term is used to describe an enlargement of the distal phalanges of the fingers, giving them a drumstick or club-like appearance.
Clinical p...
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