Mercedes-Benz-Zeichen (Gallenblase)


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 .