History

• First Description: by Dr. Thomas Stephen Cullen in 1918 in association with ruptured ectopic pregnancy
  • In 1919, Turner described a “dirty green” discoloration of the loin in association with acute pancreatitis (see Grey Turner’s Sign, [[Grey Turners Sign]])

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Etiology

• Abdominal Trauma
• Acute Pancreatitis (see Acute Pancreatitis, [[Acute Pancreatitis]]): due to methemalbumin formed from digested blood tracking around the abdominal wall from the inflamed pancreas
• Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage (see Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage, [[Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage]])
  • Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (see Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, [[Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm]])
• Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy (see Ectopic Pregnancy, [[Ectopic Pregnancy]])

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Clinical

• Peri-Umbilical Ecchymosis

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References

• Coexistence of Cullen’s and Grey Turner’s signs in acute pancreatitis. Am J Med. 2009 Apr;122(4):333-4. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.08.032 [MEDLINE]