John Thomas sign

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The John Thomas sign, also known as the Throckmorton sign,[1] is a joke in the medical community which involves the position of a penis as it relates to pathology on an x-ray of a pelvis.[2]

When the penis (visible on the x-ray as a shadow) points towards the same side as a unilateral medical condition (such as a broken bone), this is considered a "positive John Thomas sign", and if the shadow points to the other side, it is a negative John Thomas sign.

This sign is of no medical significance and is employed as a humorous aside.[citation needed]

This sign has been demonstrated to be valid in 50% of patients and, therefore, invalid in the other 50%.

[edit] References

  1. ^ synd/3050 at Who Named It
  2. ^ Thomas MC, Lyons BD, Walker RJ (1998). "John Thomas sign: common distraction or useful pointer?". Med. J. Aust. 169 (11-12): 670. PMID 9887926. 
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