Some Important Medical Signs

SOME IMPORTANT MEDICAL
SIGNS
DR. AQEEL AHMED WAQAS
ALLAMA IQBAL MEDICAL COLLEGE/JINNAH HOSPITAL
LAHORE
6/24/2018Dr. Aqeel Ahmed Waqas 1

• THESE SIGNS ARE ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY.
• DISCLAIMER: INFO PROVIDED HERE MIGHT NOT BE 100% ACCURATE. IN CASE OF
ANY AMBIGUITY, CONFUSION OR MISTAKE, PLEASE CONSULT CERTIFIED
MEDICAL DATABASE (FOR EXAMPLE, MEDSCAPE, UPTODATE ETC) FOR
CORRECTION.
• NOTE: FOR THIS WORK, HELP WAS TAKEN FROM WIKIPEDIA ARTICLES ETC.

A

ABADIE'S SIGN
• GRAVES' DISEASE
• LEVATOR PALPEBRAE SUPERIORIS SPASM

ABDERHALDEN REACTION
• SERUM REACTION;OBSOLETE

ADDIS COUNT
• PYELONEPHRITIS
• QUANTITATIVE CELLS AND CASTS IN 24HR. URINE

ADSON'S SIGN
• THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME
• OBLITERATION OF RADIAL PULSE WITH MANOEUVRES

APLEY GRIND TEST
• MENISCAL LESIONS
• MANOEUVRES TO ELICIT KNEE PAIN

B

BALLANCE'S SIGN
• ABDOMINAL/SPLENIC TRAUMA
• PERCUSSIVE DULLNESS LEFT FLANK, LUQ, PERCUSSIVE RESONANCE RIGHT FLANK

BEKHTEREV–MENDEL REFLEX
• PYRAMIDAL TRACT LESIONS
• TOE FLEXION ON PERCUSSION OF DORSUM OF FOOT

BREWER INFARCTS
• PYELONEPHRITIS
• DARK RED WEDGE SHAPED AREAS ON KIDNEY SECTION RESEMBLING
INFARCTS

BROADBENT SIGN
• ADHESIVE PERICARDITIS
• RECESSION OF L INFERIOR INTERCOSTAL SPACES

BARLOW'S MANEUVER
• HIP DYSPLASIA
• DISLOCATION ON ADDUCTION OF HIP

C

CHARCOT–LEYDEN CRYSTALS
• ANY DISORDER CHARACTERIZED BY EOSINOPHIL PROLIFERATION, E.G.
ASCARIASIS
• LYSOPHOSPHOLIPASE CRYSTALS IN VARIOUS TISSUES

CHURCHILL–COPE REFLEX
• HEART FAILURE
• DISTENSION OF PULMONARY VASCULAR BED CAUSES TACHYPNOEA

CELSUS SIGNS OF INFLAMMATION
• INFLAMMATION
• 1. RUBOR (REDNESS) 2. TUMOR (SWELLING)3. CALOR (HEAT) 4. DOLOR
(PAIN)

COURVOISIER'S LAW
• OBSTRUCTIVE JAUNDICE
• PALPABLE GALL BLADDER W/ PAINLESS JAUNDICE UNLIKELY TO BE
CHOLELITHIASIS

CORNELL'S SIGN
• SCRATCHING ALONGSIDE BIG TOE EXTENSOR TENDON ELICITS AN
EXTENSOR PLANTAR RESPONSE

D

DESTOT'S SIGN ETIENNE DESTOT
• PELVIC FRACTURE
• ECCHYMOSIS SUPERIOR TO INGUINAL LIGAMENT, IN SCROTUM OR OF
THIGH

DÖHLE BODIES
• VARIOUS INCLUDING TRAUMA AND NEOPLASM
• BASOPHILIC INCLUSIONS IN PERIPHERAL CYTOPLASM OF NEUTROPHILS

DOI'S SIGN
• EATON–LAMBERT SYNDROME
• REAPPEARANCE OF ABSENT DEEP TENDON REFLEXES AFTER SHORT PERIOD
OF MAXIMAL MUSCLE CONTRACTION

DUROZIEZ'S SIGN
• AORTIC INSUFFICIENCY
• DOUBLE BRUIT HEARD OVER FEMORAL ARTERY WHEN IT IS COMPRESSED
DISTALLY

DALRYMPLE SIGN
• THYROTOXICOSIS
• WIDENED PALPEBRAL OPENING

E

EPSTEIN'S PEARLS
• NORMAL NEWBORN
• CYSTIC PAPULES ON PALATE

EWART'S SIGN
• PERICARDIAL EFFUSION
• PERCUSSIVE DULLNESS, AEGOPHONY AND BRONCHIAL BREATH SOUNDS AT
LEFT SCAPULAR TIP

ELSCHNIG SPOTS
• HYPERTENSIVE RETINOPATHY

F

FOTHERGILL'S SIGN
• RECTUS SHEATH HEMATOMA
• ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL MASS WHICH DOES NOT CROSS THE MIDLINE AND
IS STILL PALPABLE WHEN ABDOMINAL WALL MUSCLES ARE TENSED

FOX'S SIGN
• HAEMORRHAGIC PANCREATITIS
• ECCHYMOSIS OF INGUINAL LIGAMENT (BLOOD TRACKS
RETROPERITONEALLY)

FRANK'S SIGN
• ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE
• EAR CREASE INDICATING RISK OF HEART DISEASE

FORCHHEIMER SPOTS
• RUBELLA
• SMALL RED SPOTS ON THE SOFT PALATE

FAGET SIGN
• YELLOW FEVER TYPHOID FEVER TULARAEMIA BRUCELLOSIS OTHERS
• THE UNUSUAL CONSTELLATION OF FEVER AND BRADYCARDIA

G

GAMNA–FAVRE BODIES
• LYMPHOGRANULOMA VENEREUM
• BASOPHILIC CYTOPLASMIC INCLUSION BODIES

GANDY–GAMNA NODULES
• SPLENOMEGALY DUE TO PORTAL HYPERTENSION AND SICKLE CELL DISEASE
• SMALL YELLOW-BROWN FOCI IN THE SPLEEN

GARROD'S PADS
• REPEATED EXTREME TENSION OF EXTENSOR TENDON IN
INTERPHALANGEAL JOINT
• THICKENING OF SKIN AND TISSUE OVER INTERPHALANGEAL JOINT

GOODELL'S SIGN
• PREGNANCY
• SOFTENING OF THE VAGINAL PART OF THE CERVIX DURING THE FIRST
TRIMESTER

GOTTRON'S PAPULES
• DERMATOMYOSITIS
• SCALING, ERYTHEMATOUS ERUPTION OR DUSKY RED PATCHES OVER THE
KNUCKLES, ELBOWS AND KNEES

H

HAMPTON'S HUMP
• PULMONARY EMBOLUS WITH INFARCT
• WEDGE SHAPED CONSOLIDATION AT PERIPHERY WITH BASE ON THE
PLEURA

HAMPTON'S LINE
• PEPTIC ULCER
• LINE ON BARIUM MEAL INDICATING MUCOSAL OEDEMA ASSOCIATED WITH
ULCER

HANNINGTON-KIFF SIGN
• OBTURATOR HERNIA
• ABSENT THIGH ADDUCTOR REFLEX WITH POSITIVE PATELLAR REFLEX

HIPPOCRATIC FACE
• IMPENDING DEATH

HIPPOCRATIC FINGERS
• CHRONIC HYPOXIA
• CLUBBING OF DISTAL PHALANGES

J

JENDRASSIK MANEUVER
• HYPOREFLEXIA
• COMPARES PATELLAR REFLEX WITH AND WITHOUT DISTRACTION

JOBE'S RELOCATION TEST

JOFFROY'S SIGN
• EXOPHTHALMOS IN GRAVES DISEASE
• LACK OF FOREHEAD WRINKLING WHEN PATIENT LOOKS UP WITH HEAD BOWED

JOLLY'S TEST
• MYASTHENIA GRAVIS OR EATON–LAMBERT SYNDROME
• ELECTROMYOGRAPHY TEST USING REPEATED STIMULI TO SHOW FATIGUABILITY
IN MYASTHENIA

JONES CRITERIA
• RHEUMATIC FEVER
• CRITERIA USED TO DIAGNOSE RHEUMATIC FEVER

K

KELLY'S SIGN
• VISIBLE RESPONSE OF URETER WHEN TOUCHED
• MAY BE USED IN SURGERY TO IDENTIFY THE BLADDER

KERLEY LINES
• SEEN IN PULMONARY EDEMA ON CXR

KERNIG'S SIGN
• HIP AND KNEE FULLY FLEXED, EXTENSION OF KNEE ELICITS PAIN AND/OR
OPISTHOTONUS

KOPLICK’S SPOTS
• SEEN IN MEASLES
• BLUISH SPOTS ON BUCCAL MUCOSA OPPOSITE 2ND MOLAR TOOTH

KUSSMAUL'S SIGN
• INCREASED JUGULAR VENOUS DISTENSION ON INSPIRATION
• SEEN IN SETTING OF RIGHT PUMP FAILURE

L

LADIN'S SIGN
• SOFTENING OF UTERUS (AS IN PREGNANCY)

LASÈGUE'S SIGN
• UMBAR DISC LESIONS, SCIATICA
• BETTER KNOWN AS STRAIGHT LEG RAISE TEST (SLR)

LESER–TRÉLAT SIGN
• SUDDEN ONSET OF MULTIPLE PRURITIC SEBORRHEIC KERATOSES

LEVINE'S SIGN
• MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
• PATIENT CLENCHES FIST OVER CHEST WHEN ASKED TO DESCRIBE PAIN

LHERMITTE'S SIGN
• LESIONS OF CERVICAL CORD DORSAL COLUMNS OR CAUDAL MEDULLA, MS,
CHEMOTHERAPY, BEHÇET'S DISEASE
• ELECTRICAL SENSATION DOWN THE BACK AND INTO LIMBS WITH NECK FLEXION
OR EXTENSION

M

MAYNE'S SIGN
• DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE DROP OF >15MMHG ON RAISING ARM

MARKLE SIGN
• APPENDICITIS
• RLQ PAIN ON DROPPING FROM STANDING ON TOES TO HEELS

MAGNAN'S SIGN
• COCAINE DEPENDENCE
• FEELING OF MOVING FOREIGN BODY UNDER THE SKIN

MACEWEN'S SIGN
• HYDROCEPHALUS, BRAIN ABSCESS
• RESONANCE ON PERCUSSION OF FRONTO-TEMPORO-PARIETAL SUTURE

MONIZ SIGN
• FORCEFUL PLANTAR FLEXION OF THE ANKLE ELICITS AN EXTENSOR
PLANTAR RESPONSE

N

NAEGELE'S RULE
• GESTATION
• METHOD OF ESTIMATING DUE DATE

NARDI TEST
• DYSFUNCTION OF SPHINCTER OF ODDI
• ADMINISTRATION OF MORPHINE AND NEOSTIGMINE REPRODUCES SHARP LUQ PAIN; NOT IN
GENERAL USE

NIKOLSKY'S SIGN
• PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS
• SHEARING OF EPIDERMIS UNDER PRESSURE

O

OLIVER'S SIGN
• AORTIC ARCH ANEURYSM
• CAUDAL MOVEMENT OF TRACHEA WITH SYSTOLE

OPPENHEIM'S SIGN
• IRRITATION DOWNWARD OF THE MEDIAL TIBIA CAUSES DORSIFLEXION OF BIG
TOE

OSLER'S SIGN
• ATHEROSCLEROSIS
• FALSELY ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE READING DUE TO INCOMPRESSIBILITY OF
CALCIFIED VESSELS

ORTOLANI TEST
• CONGENITAL HIP DISLOCATION
• PALPABLE CLUNK ON MOVING HIP

P

PEMBERTON'S SIGN
• RETROSTERNAL MASS WITH SUPERIOR VENA CAVA SYNDROME
• ARMS ELEVATED OVER HEAD ELICITS FACIAL PLETHORA, DISTENDED NECK VEINS
AND INSPIRATORY STRIDOR

PEABODY'S SIGN
• DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS
• CALF MUSCLE SPASM WHEN RAISING THE AFFECTED LEG WITH THE FOOT
EXTENDED

PATRICK'S TEST
• SACROILIITIS
• EXTERNAL ROTATION OF THE HIP CAUSES PAIN

PASTIA'S SIGN
• PEDIATRICS SCARLET FEVER
• LINES OF CONFLUENT PETECHIAE IN SKIN CREASES

PALLA'S SIGN
• PULMONARY EMBOLISM
• ENLARGED RIGHT DESCENDING PULMONARY ARTERY ON CHEST X-RAY

Q

QUECKENSTEDT'S MANEUVER
• BILATERAL JUGULAR VEIN PRESSURE DURING LUMBAR PUNCTURE CAUSES
SUDDEN RISE IN CSF PRESSURE

QUINCKE'S SIGN
• VISIBLE PULSATION IN UNGUAL CAPILLARY BED

R

RIESMAN'S SIGN
• THYROTOXICOSIS
• BRUIT OVER GLOBE OF THE EYE

RIGLER'S SIGN
• PNEUMOPERITONEUM
• GAS OUTLINES BOTH MUCOSAL AND SEROSAL SURFACES OF BOWEL

RINNE TEST
• COMPARISON OF AIR CONDUCTION TO BONE CONDUCTION DIFFERENTIATES
SENSORINEURAL FROM CONDUCTIVE DEAFNESS

ROMAÑA'S SIGN
• CHAGAS' DISEASE
• PAINLESS UNILATERAL PERIORBITAL SWELLING

REYNOLDS' PENTAD
• ASCENDING CHOLANGITIS
• CHARCOT'S TRIAD + HYPOTENSION AND ALTERED MENTAL STATE

S

SCHAEFFER'S SIGN
• SQUEEZING THE ACHILLES TENDON ELICITS AN EXTENSOR PLANTAR RESPONSE

SCHAMROTH'S WINDOW TEST
• CHRONIC HYPOXIA
• CLUBBING OF DISTAL PHALANGES

SCHILLER'S TEST
• CERVICAL CANCER
• AFFECTED AREAS OF CERVIX FAIL TO STAIN BROWN WITH IODINE SOLUTION

SCHILLING TEST
• PERNICIOUS ANAEMIA, COELIAC DISEASE, OTHER MALABSORPTION DISORDERS
• B12 RADIOASSAY

SALUS'S SIGN
• HYPERTENSION
• DEFLECTION OF RETINAL VEINS AT RIGHT ANGLE JUNCTIONS DUE TO
ELONGATION OR SHORTENING OF CONNECTED ARTERIOLES

T

TERRY THOMAS SIGN
• SCAPHO-LUNATE DISSOCIATION
• GAP BETWEEN THE SCAPHOID AND LUNATE BONES ON AP WRIST RADIOGRAPH

THOMAS TEST
• FIXED FLEXION DEFORMITY OF HIP
• SUPINE PATIENT FLEXES ONE HIP WHILST KEEPING OTHER LEG FLAT; BACK
ARCHES IF FLEXION DEFORMITY IS PRESENT

THROCKMORTON'S REFLEX
• RESSURE OVER DORSAL BIG TOE MTP JOINT ELICITS AN EXTENSOR PLANTAR
RESPONSE

TINEL'S SIGN
• COMPRESSION DISORDERS
• 'DTP' – DISTAL TINGLING ON PERCUSSION

TERRY'S NAILS
• HEPATIC FAILURE ETC
• WHITE 'GROUND GLASS' NAILS;ABSENCE OF LUNULA

U

UNTERBERGER TEST
• VESTIBULAR LESIONS
• PATIENT WALKS IN PLACE WITH EYES CLOSED;DIRECTION OF ROTATION
INDICATES VESTIBULAR LESION ON THAT SIDE

UHTHOFF'S PHENOMENON
• MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
• INCREASED NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS WITH EXERCISE OR OTHER INCREASE IN
BODY TEMPERATURE

V

VIRCHOW'S TRIAD
• ETIOLOGY OF THROMBOSIS
• HYPERCOAGULABILITY, HEMODYNAMIC CHANGES (STASIS, TURBULENCE) AND
ENDOTHELIAL INJURY/DYSFUNCTION

VON BRAUN-FERNWALD'S SIGN
• SOFTENING OF THE UTERINE FUNDUS AT THE SITE OF IMPLANTATION AT 4–5
WEEKS GESTATION

VON GRAEFE SIGN
• GRAVES' DISEASE
• ' LID LAG'; IMMOBILITY OF UPPER LID ON DOWNWARD GAZE

VIRCHOW'S NODE
• VARIOUS ABDOMINAL MALIGNANCIES, ESPECIALLY STOMACH CANCER
• ENLARGEMENT OF THE LEFT SUPRACLAVICULAR LYMPH NODE (=TROISIER'S
SIGN)

W

WADDELL'S SIGNS
• CHRONIC PAIN (PSYCHIATRY)
• IDENTIFY NON-ORGANIC SOURCES OF LOW BACK PAIN

WADDELL'S TRIAD
• PAEDIATRIC TRAUMA
• CHILD PEDESTRIAN STUCK BY MOTOR VEHICLE
• HEAD TRAUMA, THORACIC AND/OR ABDOMINAL TRAUMA, FEMORAL FRACTURE

WATSON'S WATER HAMMER PULSE
• AORTIC REGURGITATION
• BOUNDING FORCEFUL PULSE ELICITED WITH POSTURAL MANOEUVRES

WELLENS' SIGN OR WARNING
• SEVERE STENOSIS OF LAD
• CHARACTERISTIC EKG CHANGES

WADA TEST
• EPILEPSY, ANATOMICAL LESIONS OF CEREBRUM
• SHORT ACTING BARBITURATE INJECTED IN INTERNAL CAROTID; LATERALIZES
LANGUAGE FUNCTION

Y

YEOMAN'S TEST
• SACROILIITIS
• SACROILIAC PAIN ON ROTATION OF ILIUM AND EXTENSION OF HIP

YERGASON'S TEST
• BICIPITAL TENDINITIS
• ANTERIOR SHOULDER PAIN WITH RESISTED SUPINATION OF THE FOREARM

Some Important Medical Signs

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