Dunphy's sign

Dunphy's sign is a medical term referring to increased pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen when the patient coughs. It is a clinical sign that is often associated with acute appendicitis.

Definition

Dunphy's sign is named after the American surgeon, James Dunphy, who first described it. The sign is positive when a patient experiences increased pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen upon coughing. This is due to the increased intra-abdominal pressure that occurs during a cough, which can exacerbate the pain of an inflamed appendix.

Clinical Significance

Dunphy's sign is primarily used in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. However, it is not a definitive diagnostic tool, as it can also be positive in other conditions that cause abdominal pain, such as cholecystitis or pelvic inflammatory disease. Therefore, it should be used in conjunction with other clinical signs and symptoms, as well as diagnostic tests such as ultrasound or CT scan, to confirm the diagnosis of appendicitis.

See Also

• Rovsing's sign
• McBurney's point
• Psoas sign
• Obturator sign

References

1. Dunphy JE. Acute appendicitis. JAMA. 1963;184(1):13-16.
2. Addiss DG, Shaffer N, Fowler BS, Tauxe RV. The epidemiology of appendicitis and appendectomy in the United States. Am J Epidemiol. 1990;132(5):910-925.
3. Andersson RE. Meta-analysis of the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of appendicitis. Br J Surg. 2004;91(1):28-37.

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