Chinese dragon sign (vascular)

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 24 Jun 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Saber M, Bell D, Rock P, et al. Chinese dragon sign (vascular). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 23 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-85778

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-85778

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/85778

rID:

85778

Article created:

8 Jan 2021, Mohamed Saber ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Mohamed Saber had no recorded disclosures.

View Mohamed Saber's current disclosures

Last revised:

24 Jun 2021, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

6 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Vascular, Gastrointestinal

Sections:

Signs

Synonyms:

Chinese dragon signs (vascular)

The Chinese dragon sign is a radiological sign on abdominal radiograph and CT describing the radiologic appearance of calcified tortuous splenic artery that resembles a Chinese dragon. The tortuous splenic artery segment on the splenic hilum side represents the dragon head while the other arterial segments represent the dragon body.

It is an incidental finding that is usually seen in elderly and diabetic patients and may allow diagnosis of splenic artery aneurysms (with CT/MRI confirmation). Evidence suggests however that neither splenic artery aneurysms nor pseudoaneurysms are more common in those with heavily-calcified splenic arteries.