Boas' sign

Boas' or Boas's sign is hyperaesthesia (increased or altered sensitivity) below the right Hypochondrium or 12th rib region, which can be a symptom in acute cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder).[1] It is one of many signs a medical provider may look for during an abdominal examination.[2]

Not to be confused with Psoas sign.
Boas' sign
Differential diagnosisAcute cholecystitis, Stomach disease

Originally this sign referred to point tenderness in the region to the right of the 10th to 12th thoracic vertebrae.[3] It is less than 7% sensitive.[4][5]

Its namesake is Ismar Isidor Boas (1858–1938), a German physician and the first licensed GI specialist in his country.[6]

Boas' sign can also indicate stomach and duodenal disease. When the transverse processes of thoracic vertebrae T10-T12 are pressed or effleuraged with the bottom of the hand, pain can appear at the left of spinous processes (in stomach's lesser curvature ulcer) or at the right (in pyloric or duodenal ulcer).[7]

References
  1. "Boas' sign". GPnotebook. Archived from the original (web) on 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
  2. Hewish, Dr Paul. "Abdominal Examination" (web). Patient Plus. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
  3. Trowbridge, RL; Rutkowski, NK; Shojania, KG (1 January 2003). "Does this patient have acute cholecystitis?" (PDF). JAMA. 289 (1): 80–6. doi:10.1001/jama.289.1.80. PMID 12503981. S2CID 19833876. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  4. "Gastroenterology Grand Rounds". Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  5. Gunn A, Keddie N. Some clinical observations on patients with gallstones. Lancet 1972;2:230-241
  6. "Ismar Isidor Boas" (web). Whonamedit.com. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  7. Gupta (1 January 2003). Textbook of Surgery. Jaypee Brothers Publishers. p. 767. ISBN 978-81-7179-965-7.


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