Kelly's sign

Kelly's sign is a medical sign used in the diagnosis of gallbladder disease. It is named after the British surgeon, Walter Ernest O'Neil Kelly, who first described it in 1928.

Description

Kelly's sign is a physical examination finding that is positive when a patient experiences pain upon palpation of the right upper quadrant of the abdomen during inspiration. This is due to the inflamed gallbladder coming into contact with the examining hand during the act of breathing in.

Clinical significance

Kelly's sign is particularly useful in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the gallbladder. It is one of several physical examination signs that may be used to identify this condition, along with Murphy's sign and Boas' sign.

Limitations

While Kelly's sign can be a useful diagnostic tool, it is not always present in cases of acute cholecystitis. Furthermore, a positive Kelly's sign may also be seen in other conditions that cause inflammation in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, such as hepatitis or pyelonephritis.

See also

• Medical sign
• Acute cholecystitis
• Murphy's sign
• Boas' sign