Published in:
01-12-2018 | Classics in Abdominal Radiology
Hellmer’s sign
Published in: Abdominal Radiology | Issue 12/2018
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Visualization on conventional radiographs of a medially displaced liver edge with a relatively radiolucent zone between the liver margin and lateral abdominal wall as a sign of abdominal ascites (Fig. 1A, B) was first described by Hellmer in 1942 [1]. This “sign” now bears his name. The radiographic appearance has been attributed to small density differences between the attenuation of liver parenchyma and ascitic fluid [2, 3].
Fig. 1
A On this supine abdominal radiograph, the lateral margin of the right hepatic lobe (arrows) is displaced medially from the lateral abdominal wall (positive Hellmer’s sign). B Unenhanced abdomen CT image in the same patient confirms the presence of ascitic fluid interposed between the liver and lateral abdominal wall in the right upper quadrant
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