Chilaiditi’s Sign: A Rare Finding in a Patient with Concurrent Liver Cirrhosis and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract

Chilaiditi’s sign is a rare radiological finding characterized by colonic interposition between the liver and the right hemidiaphragm. It is a cause of pseudopneumoperitoneum which is often mistaken for true pneumoperitoneum. In this article, we present the case of a 73-year-old female with a previous history of pulmonary tuberculosis, who reported to our hospital with progressive abdominal distension associated with early satiety, bipedal swelling, generalized weakness, worsening fatigue, and weight loss. Following evaluation, she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Her chest radiograph also incidentally showed air under the right hemidiaphragm with haustral folds consistent with Chilaiditi’s sign. Since she did not have signs of peritonitis, she was eventually treated for liver cirrhosis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia without undergoing any surgical intervention. This case report seeks to create awareness among clinicians about this rare radiological sign in order to prevent misdiagnosis leading to unnecessary surgical procedures.