Roberts sign (fetal demise)

Last revised by Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈ on 25 Apr 2019

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

St-Amant M, Gaillard F, Bell D, et al. Roberts sign (fetal demise). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Mar 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-24475

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-24475

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/24475

rID:

24475

Article created:

19 Aug 2013, Maxime St-Amant

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Maxime St-Amant had no recorded disclosures.

View Maxime St-Amant's current disclosures

Last revised:

25 Apr 2019, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Revisions:

11 times, by 7 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Obstetrics

Sections:

Signs

Synonyms:

Robert's sign

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 ¹; it was first described on ultrasound in 1983 by Barbara J Weinstein, American radiologist and Lawrence D Platt, American obstetrician ².