The daily educational pearl – Chilaiditi’s syndrome

With thanks to Ignatius.

Your next patient is a 78 yo lady who presents with agitation. She is a nursing home resident and has a history of dementia.

This is her chest Xray:

Chilaiditi’s syndrome vs Chilaiditi’s sign

 

Chilaiditi’s syndrome = rare condition when the transposition of a loop of transverse colon between the diaphragm and the liver causes symptoms (abdominal pain or shortness of breath)

Most commonly it is an incidental finding in asymptomatic patients , as a normal anatomical variant = Chilaiditi’s sign