Pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, can sometimes lead to distinct visible signs on the skin, which typically indicate a more severe form of the condition. These skin manifestations are essentially forms of bruising and discoloration caused by bleeding into the subcutaneous fatty tissue.
The two most recognized skin signs associated with acute pancreatitis are:
Cullen's Sign
Cullen's sign refers to an ecchymotic discoloration—a superficial edema with bruising—that appears in the periumbilical region, meaning around the navel or belly button. This sign is a visual indicator of internal bleeding, often due to severe pancreatic inflammation. It suggests that blood or fluid from the inflamed pancreas has tracked through the abdomen to the superficial tissues around the umbilicus, causing the characteristic bluish-purple discoloration.
Grey–Turner's Sign
Grey–Turner's sign is characterized by similar ecchymotic discoloration and bruising, but it is located along the flanks (the sides of the body between the ribs and hips). Like Cullen's sign, this superficial edema with bruising in the subcutaneous fatty tissue indicates retroperitoneal hemorrhage, meaning bleeding behind the lining of the abdominal cavity. The presence of Grey-Turner's sign also points towards a severe episode of acute pancreatitis.
Both Cullen's and Grey-Turner's signs are clinically significant because their appearance often signals severe necrotizing pancreatitis, a condition where pancreatic tissue dies, leading to bleeding and fluid leakage into surrounding areas.
