Selections from the Buffet of Food Signs in Radiology

Abstract

Certain pathologic conditions have classic radiologic manifestations that resemble various types of food. These "food signs" are highly memorable and easily recognizable and include findings that resemble various fruits and vegetables; meat, fish, and egg dishes; pasta, rice, grains, and bread (carbohydrates); desserts, cakes, and candy; and dishes, cutlery, condiments, and so on. It is important that radiologists recognize these classic signs, which will allow confident diagnosis on the basis of imaging findings alone or narrowing of the differential diagnosis.

Paracardiac mass in a 55-year-old female - a case report of right-sided spontaneous diaphragmatic hernia

“…The herniated component is separated by a waist at the diaphragm from the larger intra-abdominal component. This shape resembles cottage loaf, a particular shape of bread in which larger and smaller spherical structures are squashed together, forming a cottage shape [7].…”

Integration of Imaging Signs into RadLex

“…The "Signs in Imaging" series in Radiology [6] constitutes a collection of 118 articles, published from 1999 to 2008, such as "Hawkins sign" [7] and "enlargement of the hilar periportal space" [8]. We incorporated terms and definitions from 10 review articles [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] and from online references such as CHORUS [19,20], the Interactive Atlas of Signs in Musculoskeletal Radiology [21], Medcyclopedia [22], Radiopaedia [23], and RadsWiki [24]. These resources were selected as they represent the core resources that itemize radiology signs.…”

Analogies and metaphors in clinical medicine

“…This experience was related to day-to-day analogous items seen at lunch or dinner with recognition of similarities with items of food. [3][4][5][6] It is not surprising that these resulted in classic descriptions of stools such as 'rice water' stools of cholera, 'pea soup' stools of typhoid, 'red currant jelly' stools of intussusception, and 'anchovy sauce' stools of amoebic dysentery.…”

“…This experience was related to day-to-day analogous items seen at lunch or dinner with recognition of similarities with items of food. [3][4][5][6] It is not surprising that these resulted in classic descriptions of stools such as 'rice water' stools of cholera, 'pea soup' stools of typhoid, 'red currant jelly' stools of intussusception, and 'anchovy sauce' stools of amoebic dysentery.Over the past century, over 450 metaphors have accumulated in the medical literature 1,5,7 related to fruit, vegetables, cereals, seafood, dairy products, fauna, flora, astronomical bodies, weapons, dining table utensils, laboratory equipment, drinks and colours. These continue in use today.…”