Eponyms

Eponyms

Medical terms past through the generations either associated with physical exam findings or pathology attached to a physican's name, or an anatomic structure.

Adson's Sign

• Decreased radial pulse with neck turn and breath holding
• Associated with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Abernethy malformation

Congenital anomaly of the splanchnic vasculature, arises from defects in vitelline vein formation; in type 1, portal vein completely diverted into IVC and complete absence of formation of intrahepatic portal vein; in type 2, portal venous system is formed, but there is an abnormal communication with systemic veins, usually IVC; associated with hepatic encephalopathy and hepatopulmonary syndrome; more common in dogs, particularly Yorkshire terriers.

Achenbach's syndrome

Rare entity of spontaneous or mechanically-induced hematomas on the volar aspect of fingers associated with burning pain and swelling of the digits.

Artery of Adamkiewicz

Artery that when severed, can lead to anterior spinal syndrome; can be severed in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Adamson's fringe

In tinea capitis, the location of the terminal tuft of hyphae; weakest point of hair located just about Adamson's fringe.

Brudzinski Sign

• Forced neck flexion produces hip+knee flexion
• Associated with Meningitis

Cheyne-Stokes Breathing

• Breathing alternates between fast and slow
• Associated with CNS disease

Chvostek's Sign

• Facial spasm elicited by tapping facial nerve
• Associated with Hypocalcemia

Dance's Sign

• Emptiness to palpation in RLQ
• Associated with Intussusception

de Musset's Sign

• Head bobbing with each systole
• Associated with Aortic Insufficiency

Ewart's Sign

• Dull to percussion at L scapula
• Associated with Pericardial Effusions

Fathergi’s Sign

• Abdomen more tender with sitting up
• Associated with muscle strain

Grey Turner's Sign

• Flank ecchymossis
• Associated with Retroperitoneal bleeds

Hamman’s Crunch

• Crunching sound with each heartbeat on auscultation
• Associated with Pneumomediastinum

Hoffman's Sign

• Flicking tip of 3rd finger causes thumb flexion
• Associated with UMN disease

Horner’s Sign

• Ptosis, Anhydrosis, Miosis
• Caused by a Sympathetic lesion

Ishihara's Sign

• Color blindness when viewing colored cards

Janeway's Lesions

• Painless red embolic hand lesions
• Associated with Endocarditis

Kussmaul's Sign

• JVD increases with inspiration
• Seen with Pericardial Tamponade

Levine's Sign

• Clenched fist over chest
• Seen in a massive myocardial infarction

Murphy's Sign

• Inspiratory splint with c RUQ pressure
• Associated with Cholecystitis

Nikolsky's Sign

• Lateral pressure on blister causes extension
• Seen in Pemphigus, TEN, Staph Scalded Skin Syndrome and epidermal disruption

Osler's Nodes

• Tender Nodules on palms
• Seen in Endocarditis

Phalen's Sign

• Prolonged wrist flexion causes median nerve paresthesias
• Seen in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Pregerson's Sign

• Subpatellar bulge with kness flexed
• Associated with Knee effusion

Prehn's Sign

• Testicle pain relieved by support
• Thought to be positive in Epidymitis and negative in Torsion

Psoas Sign

Hip flexion vs resistance increases abdominal pain

• Seen in appendicitis

Quincke's Sign

• Nail bed pulsations with pressure
• Associated with Aortic Insufficiency

Romberg's Sign

• Patient falls over with eyes closed
• A sign of decreased proprioception with posterior spinal column disease

Rovsing's Sign

• LLQ percussion causes RLQ pain
• Seen in appendicitis

Rumpel Leede

• Petechiae from capillary leak after tourniquet or BP cuff
• Associated with Dengue, RMSF, Scarlatina

Steinberg Sign

• Thumb IP joint can project past ulnar edge of pinky
• Marfan's disease

Thompson's Sign

• Calf squeeze does not cause plantar flexion
• Diagnostic of Achilles tendon rupture

Tinel's Sign

• Percussion of median nerve at wrist provokes paresthesias
• Seen in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Traube's Sign

• Pistol shot sound at femoral artery associated with Aoric insufficiency

Trousseau's Sign

• Carpal spasm from BP cuff associated with Hypocalcemia

Uhthoff's Sign

• Increased body temp causes worsening neuro symptoms
• Seen in Multiple sclerosis

Vircow's Nodes

• Palpable left supraclavicular lymph node
• seen in malignancies especially Pancreatic or GI cancer

Von Graefe's Sign

• Lid lag with visual tracking from hight to low
• Associated with Grave's disease

Walker’s Sign

• 1st and 5th digit encircling other wrist overlap proximal to DIP
• More common with Marfan's Disease

Weber Test

• Tuning fork when placed mid forehead is heard heard asymmetrically greater on the side that does not have a conductive hearing deficit

Yerganson's Sign

• Pain and weakness with resisted supination
• Common in Biceps Tendonitis