Rigler's sign
Encyclopedia
Rigler's sign, also known as the double wall sign, is seen on an x-ray
of the abdomen
when air is present on both sides of the intestine
; a Rigler's sign is present when air is present on the inside (lumenal side) and the outside (peritoneal side). Air in the peritoneum
is considered abnormal, unless the patient had a recent abdominal surgery
.
A false double wall sign can result from two loops of bowel being in contact with one another.
The sign is named after Leo George Rigler
.
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
of the abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
when air is present on both sides of the intestine
Intestine
In human anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the alimentary canal extending from the pyloric sphincter of the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine...
; a Rigler's sign is present when air is present on the inside (lumenal side) and the outside (peritoneal side). Air in the peritoneum
Peritoneum
The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in amniotes and some invertebrates...
is considered abnormal, unless the patient had a recent abdominal surgery
Abdominal surgery
The term abdominal surgery broadly covers surgical procedures that involve opening the abdomen. Surgery of each abdominal organ is dealt with separately in connection with the description of that organ Diseases affecting the abdominal cavity are dealt with generally under their own names The term...
.
A false double wall sign can result from two loops of bowel being in contact with one another.
The sign is named after Leo George Rigler
Leo George Rigler
Leo George Rigler was an American radiologist remembered for describing Rigler's sign.- Biography :...
.
Sources
- Harkin DW, Blake G. Small bowel obstruction in a young adult. Postgrad Med J. 1999 Mar;75(881):173-5. PMID 10448501. Free Full Text.
External links
- A film of Rigler's sign and the Football signFootball signIn radiology, the football sign is a sign indicative of air in the abdominal cavity seen on supine radiographs of the abdomen. It appears as a large oval radiolucency reminiscent of an American football. The football sign is most frequently seen in infants with spontaneous or iatrogenic gastric...
- learningradiology.com