In
medicine
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pr ...
, the Golden S sign is a
sign seen on
imaging
Imaging is the representation or reproduction of an object's form; especially a visual representation (i.e., the formation of an image).
Imaging technology is the application of materials and methods to create, preserve, or duplicate images.
...
of the chest that suggests a central
lung mass or
lung collapse
A pneumothorax is an abnormal collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. Symptoms typically include sudden onset of sharp, one-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. In a minority of cases, a one-way valve ...
.
It was first described by Dr. Ross Golden (1889-1975) in 1925 in association with
bronchial carcinoma,
but it is also seen in
metastatic cancer
Metastasis is a pathogenic agent's spread from an initial or primary site to a different or secondary site within the host's body; the term is typically used when referring to metastasis by a cancerous tumor. The newly pathological sites, the ...
,
enlarged lymph nodes
Lymphadenopathy or adenopathy is a disease of the lymph nodes, in which they are abnormal in size or consistency. Lymphadenopathy of an inflammatory type (the most common type) is lymphadenitis, producing swollen or enlarged lymph nodes. In cl ...
, and
collapse
Collapse or its variants may refer to:
Concepts
* Collapse (structural)
* Collapse (topology), a mathematical concept
* Collapsing manifold
* Collapse, the action of collapsing or telescoping objects
* Collapsing user interface elements
** ...
of the right upper lobe of the lung.
Dr. Golden became the first professor of radiology when he joined Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in 1922. It was there that he became the first chairman of the Department of Radiology until his retirement in 1954. He then became the visiting professor of radiology at UCLA Medical, 1954–1975. Dr. Golden is considered a pioneer in the field of Diagnostic Radiology when it was in its infancy, and was the author of many books, journals and periodicals on the subject. He was (twice) president of the Roentgen Ray Society as well as a trustee of the New York Academy of Medicine, and chairman of Radiological Services for the American Medical Association. Among his many honors and accolades, he was honored by President Nehru of India in 1956 for his assistance in improving radiological services throughout that country.
Appearance
The Golden S sign can be seen on
plain radiographs as well as on
computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest.
The sign is seen in the right lung as a distorted
minor fissure
The lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system in humans and most other animals, including some snails and a small number of fish. In mammals and most other vertebrates, two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of ...
, whose lateral aspect is concave inferiorly and whose medial aspect is convex inferiorly.
This produces a "reverse S" appearance, responsible for the sign being occasionally called the reverse S sign of Golden.
References
{{Radiologic signs
Radiologic signs