Ecchymosis in the lower abdomen and flank region is known as?

• A. Bell's palsy
• B. Kehr's sign
• C. Grey Turner's sign
• D. Cerebral palsy

Answer: (C)

Ecchymosis over the lower abdomen and flanks signals retroperitoneal bleeding. This specific pattern is Grey Turner's sign. It occurs when blood from the retroperitoneal space leaks and tracks to the skin of the flanks, often seen with conditions like acute pancreatitis or renal/retroperitoneal injury. It’s a late sign, appearing hours to days after the initial problem, and its presence should prompt urgent evaluation to identify and treat the source of bleeding. For contrast, Bell's palsy is a facial nerve weakness, Kehr's sign is referred shoulder pain from diaphragmatic irritation due to intra-abdominal bleeding (not bruising), and cerebral palsy is a developmental neurological disorder.