Stierlin sign (tuberculosis of ileocecal junction)

The Stierlin sign refers to repeated emptying of the cecum, seen radiographically as barium remaining in the terminal part of the ileum and in the transverse colon. This occurs due to irritation of the cecum caused by M. tuberculosis. It is not specific for tuberculosis and can also be seen in Crohn disease .

History and etymology

Eduard Stierlin (1878-1919), a fully-qualified Swiss psychiatrist and surgeon, described his sign in 1911 . He was also an accomplished writer of textbooks on the radiology of the GI tract and the thorax .

See also

• gastrointestinal tuberculosis 
• Fleischner sign

Siehe auch:

• Morbus Crohn
• intraabdominelle Tuberkulose