This site is targeted at medical and radiology professionals, contains user contributed content, and material that may be confusing to a lay audience. Use of this site implies acceptance of our Terms of Use.

Figure 3 sign

Dr Maxime St-Amant and Dr Frank Gaillard et al.

The figure 3 sign is seen in aortic coarctation and is formed by prestenotic dilatation of the aortic arch and left subclavian artery, indentation at the coarctation site (also known as the "tuck"), and poststenotic dilatation of the descending aorta.

On barium studies of the oesophagus in patients with aortic coarctation a corresponding contour abnormality is demontrated, referred to as the reverse figure 3 sign or E sign.