Sail sign (larynx)
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Deng F, Bell D, Sail sign (larynx). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-76664
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rID:
76664
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Francis Deng had no recorded disclosures.
View Francis Deng's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Frank Gaillard had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
Revisions:
4 times, by
3 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Sail sign of vocal cord paralysis
- Laryngeal sail sign
- Larynx sail sign
- Sail sign of the larynx
The sail sign of the larynx refers to the axial appearance of unilateral dilatation of the laryngeal ventricle due to vocal cord/fold paralysis. It should not be confused with the several other sail signs in radiology.
Radiographic features
CT
Axial images at the level of the glottis show the following findings 1-3:
- anteromedial rotation of the arytenoid cartilage
- medial position of the posterior vocal cord margin
- air distension of the laryngeal ventricle
The shape of the airway medially in combination with the unilateral dilated laryngeal ventricle take the appearance of a ship's sail. The sail sign is one of the three most reliable findings to localise side of vocal cord paralysis on neck CT 4.
References
- 1. Paquette CM, Manos DC, Psooy BJ. Unilateral vocal cord paralysis: a review of CT findings, mediastinal causes, and the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerves. (2012) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 32 (3): 721-40. doi:10.1148/rg.323115129 - Pubmed
- 2. Vachha B, Cunnane MB, Mallur P, Moonis G. Losing your voice: etiologies and imaging features of vocal fold paralysis. (2013) Journal of clinical imaging science. 3: 15. doi:10.4103/2156-7514.109751 - Pubmed
- 3. Schneider AJ, Winegar BA, Altmeyer W, Tantiwongkosi B. Vocal Cord Paralysis: Review of Imaging Appearance and Etiologies. (2017) Neurographics. 7 (2): 92-100. doi:10.3174/ng.2170193
- 4. Chin SC, Edelstein S, Chen CY, Som PM. Using CT to localize side and level of vocal cord paralysis. (2003) AJR. American journal of roentgenology. 180 (4): 1165-70. doi:10.2214/ajr.180.4.1801165 - Pubmed
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