| Cullen's sign | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cullen's sign | |
| Specialty | Various |
Cullen's sign, also known asumbilical black eye, is superficialedema andbruising in the subcutaneous fatty tissue around theumbilicus.
It is named forgynecologistThomas Stephen Cullen (1869–1953),[1] who first described the sign in rupturedectopic pregnancy in 1916.[2]
This sign takes 24–48 hours to appear and can predictacute pancreatitis, with mortality rising from 8–10% to 40%. It may be accompanied byGrey Turner's sign[3] (bruising of the flank), which may then be indicative of pancreatic necrosis withretroperitoneal or intra-abdominal bleeding.
Causes include:
Importance of the sign is on a decline since better diagnostic modalities are now available.