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Pitting oedema
System: General & Eye–Ear Signs · All general & eye–ear signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
Pressing a finger firmly into a swollen area (usually over the shin or ankle) for several seconds leaves a pit that slowly fills back in.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with fluid accumulation from many causes — heart failure, kidney and liver disease, venous insufficiency and some medicines among them.
Related signs — General & Eye–Ear Signs
Browse the P 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.