Case 26

History: abdominal pain.

Name the sign and what it means.

Answer:

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Rigler's sign of pneumoperitoneum

 

Rigler's sign = "double bowel wall sign". Seen with pneumoperitoneum (free air).
 
Remember, what you see on X-rays is based on changes of densities rather than the denisty itself.

• No air in the bowel = you don't see the bowel
• intraluminal air = you see the inner mucosal wall
• extra-luminal air = you see the outer serosal wall
   

So when air inside + air outside means you see both the inner mucosal and outer serosal walls = double bowel wall sign!

Tags

• body
• Basics
• Season 4
• signs