Continuous diaphragm sign
Last revised by Mohammad Taghi Niknejad on 17 Aug 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Dixon A, Niknejad M, Elfeky M, et al. Continuous diaphragm sign. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 10 Oct 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-17747
Permalink:
rID:
17747
Article created:
10 May 2012,
Andrew Dixon ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Andrew Dixon had no recorded disclosures.
View Andrew Dixon's current disclosures
Last revised:
17 Aug 2024,
Mohammad Taghi Niknejad ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Mohammad Taghi Niknejad had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Mohammad Taghi Niknejad's current disclosures
Revisions:
18 times, by
11 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Continual diaphragm sign
The continuous diaphragm sign is a chest radiograph sign of pneumomediastinum or pneumopericardium if lucency is above the diaphragm, or of pneumoperitoneum if lucency is below the diaphragm.
Normally the central portion of the diaphragm is not discretely visualized on chest radiographs as it merges with the cardiac silhouette. If the diaphragm can be seen continuously across the midline then this is highly suggestive of free gas within the mediastinum, pericardium, or peritoneal cavity 1,3.
It should not be confused with the double diaphragm sign in pneumothorax.
References
- 1. Schmitt ER, Burg MD. Continuous diaphragm sign. West J Emerg Med. 2011;12 (4): 526-7. doi:10.5811/westjem.2011.4.2283 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 2. Bejvan SM, Godwin JD. Pneumomediastinum: old signs and new signs. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1996;166 (5): 1041-8. AJR Am J Roentgenol (abstract) - Pubmed citation
- 3. Christopher M. Zylak, James R. Standen, George R. Barnes, Carl J. Zylak. Pneumomediastinum Revisited1. (2000) RadioGraphics. 20 (4): 1043-57. doi:10.1148/radiographics.20.4.g00jl131043 - Pubmed
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Cases:
- Pneumoperitoneum - iatrogenic from colonoscopy
- Pneumomediastinum
- Tension pneumoperitoneum
- Tension pneumoperitoneum
- Continuous diaphragm sign
- Iatrogenic pneumoperitoneum
- Pneumoperitoneum – supine versus erect radiograph
- Pneumopericardium
- Continuous diaphragm sign
- Continuous diaphragm sign
- Tension pneumoperitoneum
- Pneumocystis pneumonia - neonatal
- Pneumoperitoneum
- Pneumomediastinum
- Continuous diaphragm sign
- Traumatic pneumomediastinum
- Pneumomediastinum: with continuous diaphragm sign
- Pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium
- Bronchiolitis with pneumomediastinum
- Tension pneumoperitoneum
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