Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Shetty A, Bell D, Shah V, et al. Stierlin sign (tuberculosis of ileocecal junction). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 11 Mar 2025) https://radiopaedia.org/articles/27631
The Stierlin sign refers to repeated emptying of the cecum, seen radiographically as barium remaining in the terminal part of the ileum and in the transverse colon. This occurs due to irritation of the cecum caused by M. tuberculosis. It is not specific for tuberculosis and can also be seen in Crohn disease 3.
History and etymology
Eduard Stierlin (1878-1919), a dual qualified Swiss psychiatrist and surgeon, described his sign in 1911 4. He was also an accomplished writer of textbooks on the radiology of the GI tract and the thorax 5.
See also
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1.Harisinghani MG, McLoud TC, Shepard JA et-al. Tuberculosis from head to toe. Radiographics. 2000;20 (2): 449-70. doi:10.1148/radiographics.20.2.g00mc12449 - Pubmed citation
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2.Sharma MP, Bhatia V. Abdominal tuberculosis. Indian J. Med. Res. 2005;120 (4): 305-15. Pubmed citation
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3. Abdominal tuberculosis of the gastrointestinal tract: Revisited. (2014) World Journal of Gastroenterology. 20 (40): 14831. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14831 - Pubmed
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4. Stierlin E. Die Radiographie in der Diagnostik der Ileozoekaltuberkulose und anderer Krankheiten des Dickdarms. Muenchener Medizinische Wochenschrift 1911;58:1231e5. https://doi.org/10.1177/0284185116630476
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5. Maizlin ZV, Cooperberg PL, Clement JJ, Vos PM, Coblentz CL. People behind exclusive eponyms of radiologic signs (Part II). (2010) Canadian Association of Radiologists journal = Journal l'Association canadienne des radiologistes. 61 (1): 44-53. doi:10.1016/j.carj.2009.10.011 - Pubmed
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