Bing's sign

Bing's sign is a clinical sign that indicates the presence of a pleural effusion or pneumothorax. It is named after the German physician, Otto Bing, who first described it. The sign is positive when there is a change in the percussion note at the lung base on full inspiration compared to expiration.

Description

Bing's sign is a physical examination finding that is used to detect the presence of fluid or air in the pleural space. The sign is elicited by percussing the lower lung fields during full inspiration and then again during full expiration. If the percussion note changes from resonant or hyper-resonant (indicating air-filled lung) on inspiration to dull (indicating fluid or solid tissue) on expiration, the sign is positive.

Clinical significance

A positive Bing's sign is suggestive of a pleural effusion or pneumothorax. However, it is not specific for these conditions and can also be positive in other conditions that cause a change in the distribution of air and fluid in the lungs, such as lobar pneumonia or atelectasis.

Limitations

While Bing's sign can be a useful tool in the physical examination of patients with suspected pleural disease, it has several limitations. It requires a significant amount of fluid or air in the pleural space to be positive, and therefore may not detect small effusions or pneumothoraces. Additionally, the sign can be difficult to elicit in obese patients or those with thick chest walls.

See also

• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Physical examination
• Otto Bing

References

Bing's sign Resources
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