Steeple sign explained
In radiology, the steeple sign is a radiologic sign found on a frontal neck radiograph where subglottic tracheal narrowing produces the shape of a church steeple within the trachea itself.[1] [2] The presence of the steeple sign supports a diagnosis of croup, usually caused by paramyxoviruses.[3] It can also be defined as the replacement of the usual squared-shoulder appearance of the subglottic area by cone-shaped narrowing just distal to the vocal cords. This is called the steeple or pencil-point sign.
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Notes and References
- Book: Braen, G. Richard. Manual of Emergency Medicine. 29 March 2012. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 9781451153910. 203. Radiologic confirmation of proximal narrowing of the subglottic space can be obtained by an AP radiograph of the neck; typically, a "steeple sign" is noted referring to the similar appearance of a church steeple..
- Book: Burket, Lester William. Burket's Oral Medicine. 2008. PMPH-USA. 9781550093452. 304. This type of narrowing is typically present in croup and is known as the steeple sign on the anteroposterior radiograph given its similarity to a church steeple..
- Salour. M. . The steeple sign . . 216 . 2 . 428–9 . 2000 . 10924564 . 10.1148/radiology.216.2.r00au18428.
