What causes Teardrop sign in orbit on CT?
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Answer:
Teardrop sign represents a teardrop-shaped fragment of herniated intraorbital fat and/or inferior rectus muscle protruding through a fracture of the medial or inferior orbital floor, seen in orbital blowout or trapdoor fractures, often following blunt facial trauma; associated with entrapment leading to diplopia and restricted gaze, particularly in pediatric patients due to elastic bone.
Why is it called so?
Named for the characteristic teardrop-shaped appearance of the herniated orbital contents fragment suspended in the maxillary sinus through the orbital floor defect.
Pathophysiology
Blunt trauma causes increased intraorbital pressure, resulting in hydraulic blowout fracture of the thin medial/inferior orbital floor; orbital fat and inferior rectus muscle herniate into the maxillary sinus, forming a teardrop configuration due to gravity and soft tissue density contrast against aerated sinus.
Alternative names: None
Other associated named signs: None
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