Roberts sign (fetal demise)

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Roberts sign refers to the presence of a gas shadow within the heart or the greater vessels, in cases of fetal death in utero. It is a rare sign caused by postmortem blood degeneration, usually seen 1-2 days after death; and may be seen as early as 12 hours.

History and etymology

First described as a sign on radiographs by J B Roberts in 1944 ; it was first described on ultrasound in 1983 by Barbara J Weinstein, American radiologist and Lawrence D Platt, American obstetrician .

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