Hampton hump
Encyclopedia
Hampton's hump, also called Hampton hump, is a radiologic sign
which consists of a shallow wedge-shaped opacity in the periphery of the lung
with its base against the pleural surface. It is named after Aubrey Otis Hampton
who first described it in 1940. Hampton's hump along with Westermark sign
aids in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism
.
Radiologic sign
A radiologic sign is an "objective" indication of some medical fact or quality that is detected by a physician during examination of a radiograph .-Examples:*Football sign*Hampton's hump*Omental cake*Pneumatosis intestinalis...
which consists of a shallow wedge-shaped opacity in the periphery of the lung
Lung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
with its base against the pleural surface. It is named after Aubrey Otis Hampton
Aubrey Otis Hampton
Aubrey Otis Hampton was an American radiologist remembered for describing Hampton's hump and Hampton's line. He graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in 1925, undertook his internship in Dallas and worked at the Massachusetts General Hospital from 1926...
who first described it in 1940. Hampton's hump along with Westermark sign
Westermark sign
In chest radiography, the Westermark Sign, is a sign that represents a focus of oligemia seen distal to a pulmonary embolus...
aids in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream . Usually this is due to embolism of a thrombus from the deep veins in the legs, a process termed venous thromboembolism...
.