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.
1,141 results found
Article
Kissing carotids
The term kissing carotids refers to tortuous and elongated carotid arteries which touch in the midline. They can be found in:
retropharynx 2
intrasphenoid 1
within the pituitary fossa
within sphenoid sinuses
within sphenoid bones
The significance of kissing carotids is two-fold:
may mimi...
Article
Cloverleaf skull (craniosynostosis)
Cloverleaf skull, also known as kleeblattschädel syndrome or deformity, refers to a type of severe craniosynostosis that gives the skull a cloverleaf shape. It is very rare, with less than 130 case reports globally. It typically results from intrauterine premature closure of the sagittal, corona...
Article
Shagreen patch
A shagreen patch is a subepidermal collagenous connective tissue nevus, also known as a collagenoma, associated with tuberous sclerosis. The overlying skin may be discoloured with obvious pores, giving the appearance of orange peel. These lesions are most commonly found in the lumbosacral region...
Article
Lambda sign (disambiguation)
There are two described lambda (λ) signs:
lambda sign (twin pregnancy)
lambda sign (sarcoidosis)
Article
Black turbinate sign (nasal cavity)
The black turbinate sign refers to the non-enhancement of nasal turbinates in a patient with acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis.
Angioinvasive fungal infection (e.g. mucormycosis or aspergillosis) involves the nasal mucosa and causes infarction of the surrounding tissue. The infarcted tissue ...
Article
Tadpole sign
The tadpole sign, also known as the lollipop sign, refers to a characteristic morphology of post-traumatic bridging vein thrombosis with a rounded "head" and a tapering "tail". The finding demonstrates a high specificity for abusive head trauma, a sub-type of non-accidental injury, and should wa...
Article
Fleck sign (foot)
The fleck sign in the foot is a small bony fragment seen in the Lisfranc space (between the base of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal) associated with avulsion of the Lisfranc ligament (at the base of the 2nd metatarsal or the medial cuneiform). It is a very subtle, but important finding since it predi...
Article
Cervicothoracic sign
The cervicothoracic sign is a variation of the silhouette sign on frontal chest radiography used to determine whether a superior (para)mediastinal soft tissue mass is anterior or posterior to the trachea.
A positive cervicothoracic sign occurs when a thoracic lesion contacts the neck or extends...
Article
Comma sign of subscapularis tear
The comma sign of subscapularis tear was first described on arthroscopy but recognized later on MRI. The comma sign represents a full thickness partial width superior subscapularis tear along with torn superior glenohumeral and coracohumeral ligament insertional fibers vertically retracted via a...
Article
Hydatid cyst signs
There are numerous named imaging signs of hydatid cysts in echinococcal infection. There is considerable variability in the naming and definition of many of the signs in the literature. In general, the signs demonstrate the presence of laminated cyst membranes in various morphologies within a la...
Article
Air bubble sign (tension pneumocephalus)
The air bubble sign is seen on CT of the brain and represents multiple small foci of air within the subarachnoid space, especially the Sylvian fissure.1
Although described as a sign of tension pneumocephalus it is also seen in pneumocephalus without elevated pressures.2
It should not be confus...
Article
Gasless abdomen
A gasless abdomen refers to a paucity of gas on abdominal radiography, and the specific cause can usually be identified when the patient's history is known. Common causes include:
proximal obstruction: gastric outlet obstruction, esophageal atresia
small bowel obstruction
bowel ischemia
asci...
Article
Accordion sign (colon)
The accordion sign (also known as concertina sign) is seen on CT of the abdomen and refers to the similarity between the thickened edematous wall of pseudomembranous colitis and the folds of an accordion. This appearance is the result of hyperemic enhancing mucosa stretched over markedly thicken...
Article
Signs of pulmonary embolus on chest radiography
There are several described signs of pulmonary embolus on chest radiography which are suggestive of this diagnosis. None are pathognomonic and need to be interpreted with caution with close regard to the clinical presentation.
Chang sign
Fleischner sign
Hampton hump (strictly a sign of pulmon...
Article
Aubergine sign (penis)
The aubergine sign (also known as egg-plant sign or deformity) is a clinical sign of a fractured penis. Hemorrhage beyond the tunica albuginea produces swelling and bruising of the penis simulating the appearance of an aubergine.
Article
Pretzel sign (serpentine aneurysm)
The pretzel sign is seen on DSA and is indicative of a serpentine aneurysm 1.
The sign refers to the sinusoid configuration of the intra-aneurysmal vascular channel seen in serpentine aneurysms, giving it the appearance of a pretzel.
Article
Lipoma
Lipomas are benign tumors composed of mature adipocytes. They are the most common soft tissue tumor, seen in ~2% of the population.
Epidemiology
Patients typically present in adulthood (5th-7th decades).
Associations
In some cases, multiple lipomas are associated with syndromes and other di...
Article
Pear-shaped bladder
Pear-shaped (or teardrop-shaped) bladder is one whose normal round or ovoid shape has been extrinsically compressed to resemble a pear. The pear may be inverted or upright, depending on how the excess pelvic tissue compresses the bladder.
Pathology
Etiology
Causes of a pear-shaped bladder inc...
Article
Lipohemarthrosis
Lipohemarthrosis results from an intra-articular fracture with escape of fat and blood from the bone marrow into the joint, and is most frequently seen in the knee, associated with a tibial plateau fracture or distal femoral fracture; rarely a patellar fracture. They have also been described in ...
Article
Notch sign (disambiguation)
There are many so-called notch signs. They include:
focal notch in the wall (or tail extending from) a 2nd branchial cleft cyst between the internal and external carotid arteries
peripheral notches in the contour of a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) suggests malignancy
thymic notch sign
late...