Pemberton Sign: A Recommendation to Perform Arm Elevation Spirometry With Flow-Volume Loops

Patrícia Naves Resende; Marcelo Bezerra de Menezes; Geruza Alves Silva; Elcio Oliveira Vianna

doi:10.1378/chest.15-0700

Pemberton Sign: A Recommendation to Perform Arm Elevation Spirometry With Flow-Volume Loops

Chest. 2015 Dec;148(6):e168-e170. doi: 10.1378/chest.15-0700.

Authors

Patrícia Naves Resende¹, Marcelo Bezerra de Menezes¹, Geruza Alves Silva¹, Elcio Oliveira Vianna²

Affiliations

¹ From the Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
² From the Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: evianna@fmrp.usp.br.

PMID: 26621294
DOI: 10.1378/chest.15-0700

Abstract

We report a case of intrathoracic goiter with positive Pemberton sign. Conventional spirometry did not show abnormalities, but arm elevation spirometry with flow-volume loops revealed expiratory flow limitation with a plateau. Clinicians should consider repeating flow-volume loops with arm elevation in all cases of intrathoracic goiter with initially normal loops.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
Airway Obstruction* / diagnosis
Airway Obstruction* / etiology
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Goiter, Substernal* / complications
Goiter, Substernal* / diagnosis
Goiter, Substernal* / physiopathology
Humans
Patient Positioning / methods*
Pulmonary Ventilation
Radiography, Thoracic / methods
Spirometry / methods*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods