Mercedes-Benz sign (gallbladder)

In the gallbladder, the Mercedes-Benz sign describes a star-shaped pattern of gas-fissuring within gallstones initially described on an abdominal radiograph .

Fissures, usually fluid-filled, are present in close to 50% of gallstones. Less than half of these fissured gallstones contain some amount of gas . The radiolucency caused by the gas usually appears in a triradiate pattern, mimicking the Mercedes-Benz logo.

Terminology

The terms crow's foot and star‐shaped were previously used to describe fissured gallstones. However, they were replaced by the Mercedes-Benz sign .

History

In 1796 Friedrich August Walter described stellate fissuring of gallstones in vitro but it was identified in an abdominal x‐ray by Breuer until 1931 .

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