Cullen's Sign

Localized Abdominal Wall Bile Staining Due To Retroperitoneal Bile Leak

“…asa pseudo-Bryant's sign, the groins (14) and pubis (13), mimicking Stabler'sign, and thighs (14), amodifled Fox's sign, were described. Moreover, before Cullen's description in 1918 ofthe ecchymoses in the periumbilical area, RansoholT described in 1906 a localized yellow umbilical stain in a patient with a ruptured common bile duct ( 15). Those findings support the similar behaviour of pathological retroperitoneal fluid collections and being aware of them is of critical importance, as their presence can reveal an unknown bile leak, or bleeding, with the consequent need for urgent surgery.…”