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25 Signs in Obstetrics

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Bagel sign:

Ultrasonographic sign. Gestational sac in the adnexa with hyperechoic ring.

Ball Sign:

Radiological sign of intrauterine fetal death. X-ray shows crumpled up spine of

the fetus..

Banana Sign:

Ultrasound sign in open spina bifida. Shows abnormal anterior curvature of

cerebellum. Due to the associated Arnold-Chiari malformation.

Chadwick’s Sign:

Bluish hue to the vestibule and anterior vaginal wall. Seen in first trimester of
pregnancy. Cause is increased blood flow to the pelvic organs. Also known as
jacquemier’s Sign.

Cullen Sign:

Bluish discoloration of skin around umbilicus. Occurs due to intra peritoneal

hemorrhage. Seen in ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Double Bubble Sign:.

Useful in prenatal diagnosis of duodenal atresia. Duodenal atresia usually

presents with polyhydramnios and produces dilatation of stomach and first part of
duodenum.

Double decidual sac Sign:

Normal Ultrasonographic appearance of intrauterine gestational sac. Seen as two

concentric echogenic rings separated by a hyperechoic space.

Goodell Sign:

Marked softening of the cervix in contrast to non pregnant state. Also due to
increased blood flow.

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Hegar Sign:

An indication of Pregnancy. Softening of the lower parts of the uterus enables

approximation of vaginal and abdominal fingers in bimanual pelvic examination. Vaginal
fingers are placed in the posterior fornix and abdominal hand pressed down behind the
uterus.

Jacquemier’s sign: Refer Chadwick Sign

Kustner’s Sign:

Sign of placental separation. On pushing the uterus upwards does not move the
cord with it due to the separation.

Ladin’s Sign:

Softening in the midline of the uterus anteriorly at the junction of the uterus and
cervix. It occurs at about 6 weeks gestation

Lambda Sign:

Ultrasonographic sign seen in dichorionic pregnancies. Due to the chorionic tissue

in between the two layers of the membrane between the twins.

Lemon Sign:

Ultrasound sign in open spina bifida. Shows abnormal anterior curvature of

cerebellum. Due to the associated Arnold-Chiari malformation.

Osiander’s Sign:

Pulsations in the lateral fornix due to the increased vascularity.

Palmer’s Sign:

Regular rhythmic contractions of uterus felt as early as 6-8 weeks . It is a sign of

pregnancy.

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Piskacek’s Sign:

Asymmetric growth occurs to the uterus in initial stages of pregnancy due to the
lateral implantation of the blastocyst. The area of implantation feels soft compared to
the other parts.

Robert’s Sign:

Radiological sign of intrauterine fetal death. X-ray shows presence of gas in the
fetal great vessels. Earliest radiological sign of intrauterine fetal death

Schroder’s Sign:

A sign of placental separation. Uterus rises up when the separated placenta is

passed downwards.

Spalding Sign:

Sign of intrauterine fetal death. Overlapping of skull bones after fetal demise.
Observed by ultrasonogrm.

Stallworthy’s Sign:

Slowing of fetal heart rate on pressing the head down I to the pelvis and prompt
recovery on release of pressure is termed Stallworthy’s sign. This sign is suggestive of
posterior placenta praevia.

Stuck Twin Sign:

Seen in twin to twin transfusion syndrome. Due to the severe oligohydramnios

smaller twin is held in a fixed position along the uterine wall. This is called stuck twin
sign.

‘T’ Sign:

Ultrasonographic sign seen in monochromic twins. As the intertwin membrane

does not have any chorionic tissue it gives rise to ‘T’ sign in ultrasound.

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Turtle Sign:

Failure of restitution seen in shoulder dystocia is called turtle sign.

Von Braun-Fernwald's Sign:

Irregular softening and enlargement of the uterine fundus during early

pregnancy. It occurs at 5-8 weeks gestation.

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