Thumbprint sign

In radiology, the thumbprint sign, or thumbprinting, is a radiologic sign found on a lateral C-spine radiograph that suggests the diagnosis of epiglottitis. The sign is caused by a thickened free edge of the epiglottis, which causes it to appear more radiopaque than normal, resembling the distal thumb.

In an abdominal radiography, thumbprinting has an appearance of thumbs protruding into the intestinal lumen, and is caused by thickened edematous mucosal folds.^[1] Abdominal thumbprinting is a non-specific finding, though one potential cause is intestinal ischemia.^[2]

References

↑ Page 111 in:Elizabeth D Agabegi; Agabegi, Steven S. (2008). Step-Up to Medicine (Step-Up Series). Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-7153-6.
↑ Acute epiglottitis at eMedicine

External links

Thumbprint sign on plain film

Diseases of the respiratory system (J, 460–519)

Upper RT
(including URTIs,
Common cold)

Head	sinuses Sinusitis nose Rhinitis Vasomotor rhinitis Atrophic rhinitis Hay fever Nasal polyp Rhinorrhea nasal septum Nasal septum deviation Nasal septum perforation Nasal septal hematoma tonsil Tonsillitis Adenoid hypertrophy Peritonsillar abscess

Neck	pharynx Pharyngitis Strep throat Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) Retropharyngeal abscess larynx Croup Laryngomalacia Laryngeal cyst Laryngitis Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) Laryngospasm vocal folds Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) Vocal fold nodule Vocal cord paresis Vocal cord dysfunction epiglottis Epiglottitis trachea Tracheitis Tracheal stenosis

Lower RT/lung disease
(including LRTIs)

Bronchial/
obstructive

acute: Acute bronchitis

chronic

COPD

Chronic bronchitis

Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

Acute exacerbation of COPD

Emphysema)

Asthma (Status asthmaticus

unspecified

Bronchiolitis obliterans

Diffuse panbronchiolitis

Interstitial/
restrictive
(fibrosis)

External agents/ occupational lung disease	Pneumoconiosis Asbestosis Baritosis Bauxite fibrosis Berylliosis Caplan's syndrome Chalicosis Coalworker's pneumoconiosis Siderosis Silicosis Talcosis Byssinosis Hypersensitivity pneumonitis Bagassosis Bird fancier's lung Farmer's lung Lycoperdonosis

Other	ARDS Pulmonary edema Löffler's syndrome/Eosinophilic pneumonia Respiratory hypersensitivity Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis Hamman-Rich syndrome Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Sarcoidosis

Obstructive or
restrictive

Pneumonia/
pneumonitis

By pathogen	Viral Bacterial Pneumococcal Klebsiella) Atypical bacterial Mycoplasma Legionnaires' disease Chlamydiae Fungal Pneumocystis Parasitic noninfectious Chemical/Mendelson's syndrome Aspiration/Lipid

By vector/route	Community-acquired Healthcare-associated Hospital-acquired

By distribution	Broncho- Lobar

IIP	UIP DIP BOOP-COP NSIP RB

Other

Atelectasis
circulatory
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary embolism
Lung abscess

Pleural cavity/
mediastinum

Pleural disease	Pleuritis/pleurisy Pneumothorax/Hemopneumothorax Pleural effusion Hemothorax Hydrothorax Chylothorax Empyema/pyothorax Malignant Fibrothorax

Mediastinal disease	Mediastinitis Mediastinal emphysema

Other/general

Radiologic signs

Cardiovascular	Aortic unfolding Dense artery sign Halo sign

Respiratory	Air crescent sign Deep sulcus sign Golden S sign Hampton hump Kerley lines Peribronchial cuffing Sail sign of the chest Silhouette sign Steeple sign Thumbprint sign Traction bronchiectasis Tree-in-bud sign Westermark sign

Urogenital	Canga's bead symptom

Musculoskeletal	Crescent sign Fabella sign Fat pad sign Osteopathia striata Sail sign of the elbow

Gastrointestinal	Cupola sign Double bubble Endoexoenteric Football sign Hampton's line Hot quadrate sign Mumoli's sign Omental cake Pneumatosis intestinalis Rigler's sign Sentinel loop

Neurological	Hot cross buns Hyperdense middle cerebral artery

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