A Sonographic Murphy sign refers to a finding when performing diagnostic medical sonography. It is different from the Murphy sign found on physical examination, but both signs are associated with cholecystitis

Cholecystitis

-Signs and symptoms:Cholecystitis usually presents as a pain in the right upper quadrant. This is known as biliary colic. This is initially intermittent, but later usually presents as a constant, severe pain. During the initial stages, the pain may be felt in an area totally separate from the site...

  When the sonographer presses directly over the gallbladder

Gallbladder

In vertebrates the gallbladder is a small organ that aids mainly in fat digestion and concentrates bile produced by the liver. In humans the loss of the gallbladder is usually easily tolerated....

, and the patient

Patient

A patient is any recipient of healthcare services. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, veterinarian, or other health care provider....

 expresses pain

Pain

Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...

, more than when the sonographer presses anywhere else, this is said to be a positive sonographic Murphy sign.

Differences

A Sonographic Murphy sign is different from a Murphy sign on physical examination of the abdomen in three ways:

1. Unlike the physician doing an abdominal exam, the sonographer can see the exact position of the gallbladder, which varies somewhat from one person to the next, and with the depth of inspiration.
2. The patient usually takes a breath and holds it during scanning, while the traditional Murphy sign is elicited while the patient is inhaling, and
3. The sonographer is usually asking the patient about the pain, while the traditional Murphy sign relies on an involuntary reaction - stopping inspiration when the gallbladder slides under the examining hand.