Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cullen's sign
Introduction
Etymology
Etymology
It is named for Thomas S. Cullen (1869-1953),[1] who was an obstetrician and first described the sign in ruptured ectopic pregnancy in 1916.[2]
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
This sign takes 24-48 hours to appear and predicts a severe attack of acute pancreatitis, with mortality rising from 8-10% to 40%.
It may be accompanied by Grey-Turner’s sign (bruising of the flank).
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Common Causes
Causes include:
- acute pancreatitis, where methaemalbumin formed from digested blood tracks around the abdomen from the inflamed pancreas
- bleeding from blunt abdominal trauma
- bleeding from ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Physical Examination
Skin
Importance of the sign is on a decline since better diagnostic modalities are now available
References
References
- ↑ Template:WhoNamedIt
- ↑ T. S. Cullen. Embryology, anatomy, and diseases of the umbilicus together with diseases of the urachus. Philadelphia, Saunders, and London, 1916.
Template:Eponymous medical signs for digestive system and general abdominal signs
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]