Cupola sign

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Cupola sign
Cupola sign
Differential diagnosispneumoperitoneum

The cupola sign is seen on a supine chest or abdominal radiograph in the presence of pneumoperitoneum.

It refers to dependent air that rises within the

diaphragm
in the midline. It is seen as lucency overlying the lower thoracic vertebral bodies. The superior border is well defined, but the inferior margin is not.

Term

"Cupola" is an architectural term, referring to a small dome (in particular, a small dome crowning a roof or a turret). The word derives from a Latin word for a "little cup".

References

  • Marshall Geoffrey B. “The Cupola Sign.” Radiology 241, no. 2 (November 1, 2006): 623–624. doi:10.1148/radiol.2412040700.
  • Fleming J, Honour H, Pevsner N. The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture: Fourth Edition. Penguin Books. . Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon