Mickey Mouse sign is a
medical sign resembling the head of
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is an American cartoon character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime icon and mascot of the Walt Disney Company, Mickey is an anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red shorts, large shoes, and white ...
, the
Walt Disney
Walter Elias Disney ( ; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer, voice actor, and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the Golden age of American animation, American animation industry, he introduced several develop ...
character. Presented for the very first time at the CHIVA's Meeting, Berlin 2002 by Dr. Lurdes Cerol, this sign has been described as the image at the
groin
In human anatomy, the groin, also known as the inguinal region or iliac region, is the junctional area between the torso and the thigh. The groin is at the front of the body on either side of the pubic tubercle, where the lower part of the abdom ...
when a dilated
accessory saphenous vein (ASV) exists: the
common femoral vein (CFV) represents the head of Mickey Mouse while the
great saphenous vein (GSV) and the dilated
accessory saphenous vein (ASV) represent the ears. The presence of a Mickey Mouse sign has been a great diagnostic clue to check ASV insufficiency.
Some authors, inspired by this sign, described an ecographic "Mickey Mouse View" at the
saphenofemoral junction in the
groin
In human anatomy, the groin, also known as the inguinal region or iliac region, is the junctional area between the torso and the thigh. The groin is at the front of the body on either side of the pubic tubercle, where the lower part of the abdom ...
: the
common femoral vein (CFV) represents the head of Mickey Mouse while the
great saphenous vein (GSV) and the
accessory saphenous vein (ASV) represent the ears.
But it can be seen in different regions of the body:
*
Midbrain of
progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
* Polyostotic
Paget's disease (Paget's disease affecting multiple bones); a
bone scintigraphy with
technetium-99m methylene bisphosphonate shows increased uptake at the sites of disease activity. Increased scintigraphic uptake in the body and spine of the
vertebrae
Each vertebra (: vertebrae) is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spinal ...
resembles the head of Mickey Mouse.
* The
portal triad in
biliary ultrasound
Ultrasound is sound with frequency, frequencies greater than 20 Hertz, kilohertz. This frequency is the approximate upper audible hearing range, limit of human hearing in healthy young adults. The physical principles of acoustic waves apply ...
scans, with the
portal vein comprising Mickey's head and the
common bile duct and
hepatic artery his right and left ears, respectively.
*
Pelvic Mickey Mouse sign: bilateral
inguinal vesical hernia on transverse axial imaging.
* Dysmorphic Mickey Mouse RBCs:
RBCs with irregular cell walls and migration of
hemoglobin into some areas creating the shape of Mickey Mouse ears. The presence of these dysmorphic cells in
urine
Urine is a liquid by-product of metabolism in humans and many other animals. In placental mammals, urine flows from the Kidney (vertebrates), kidneys through the ureters to the urinary bladder and exits the urethra through the penile meatus (mal ...
may indicate
intraglomerular haemorrhage.
*
Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO)
References
{{reflist
Medical signs
Midbrain
Mickey Mouse