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Shifting dullness
System: General & Eye–Ear Signs · All general & eye–ear signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
Percussing the abdomen finds dullness in the flanks; when the patient rolls onto one side, the dullness shifts to the lower side as free fluid moves, and the upper flank becomes resonant.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with free fluid in the peritoneal cavity (ascites).
Related signs — General & Eye–Ear Signs
Browse the S 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.