Khizra Ferozover 2 years ago

Cullen's and Grey Turner's sign

An 80-year-old patient was admitted to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain. Laboratory test results revealed markedly elevated lipase (1835 U/L), alpha-amylase (923 U/L), and abnormal liver enzymes. Acute biliary pancreatitis was diagnosed. After a few days, the appearance of discolorations of the abdominal wall was noticed (photographed 3 days after admission). Cullen's sign is described as superficial oedema with bruising in the subcutaneous fatty tissue around the peri-umbilical region. This is also known as peri-umbilical ecchymosis. It is most often recognised as a result of haemorrhagic pancreatitis. Grey Turner sign refers to ecchymosis of the flanks and may occur in conjunction with Cullen sign, especially in patients with retroperitoneal hemorrhage. When Cullen or Grey Turner signs result from acute pancreatitis, they signal severe disease, with a mortality estimate as high as 37%.