Grey Turner's sign

Common card · No. 423987

Grey Turner's sign refers to bruising of the flanks, the part of the body between the last rib and the top of the hip. The bruising appears as a blue discoloration, and is a sign of retroperitoneal hemorrhage, or bleeding behind the peritoneum, which is a lining of the abdominal cavity. Grey Turner's sign takes 24–48 hours to develop, and can predict a severe attack of acute pancreatitis. Grey Turner's sign may occur when there is retroperitoneal hemorrhage or intramural bleeding that moves through fascial planes to the subcutaneous areas of the flanks which causes discoloration of the skin. This is commonly associated with severe intra-abdominal pathology such as severe acute pancreatitis. In acute pancreatitis, it can correlate with greater severity, more extensive retroperitoneal hemorrhage and worse prognosis. Grey Turner's sign may be accompanied by Cullen's sign. Both signs may be indicative of pancreatic necrosis with retroperitoneal or intra-abdominal bleeding. It may also...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Herbert L. Fred, MD and Hendrik A. van Dijk, CC BY 2.0