Spalding sign (fetal demise)

Last revised by Grace Carpenter on 19 Feb 2020

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Gaillard F, Carpenter G, Di Muzio B, et al. Spalding sign (fetal demise). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-2065

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-2065

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/2065

rID:

2065

Article created:

2 May 2008, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Last revised:

19 Feb 2020, Grace Carpenter ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Grace Carpenter had no recorded disclosures.

View Grace Carpenter's current disclosures

Revisions:

15 times, by 12 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Obstetrics

Sections:

Signs

Synonyms:

Spalding's sign

The Spalding sign refers to the overlapping of the fetal skull bones caused by collapse of the fetal brain. It appears usually a week or more after fetal death in utero.

This finding was originally described by Alfred Baker Spalding (1874-1942), an American obstetrician ², on abdominal radiographs and is indicative of fetal demise.