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Castell's sign
System: Abdominal & Digestive Signs · All abdominal & digestive signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
Percussion in the lowest left intercostal space at the front (Castell's point) changes from resonant to dull when the patient breathes in deeply.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly).
◈ Behind the name
Carlo Castell, American physician, who described the sign in 1967.
Related signs — Abdominal & Digestive Signs
Browse the C section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.