Pemberton's sign

Pemberton's sign is the development of facial flushing,^[1] distended neck and head superficial veins, inspiratory stridor and elevation of the jugular venous pressure (JVP) upon raising both of the patient's arms above his/her head simultaneously, as high as possible (Pemberton's maneuver).

It is named for Dr. Hugh Pemberton, who characterized it in 1946.^[2][3]

Causes

A positive Pemberton's sign is a sign of superior vena cava syndrome, possibly from a mass in the mediastinum, such as a tumor(for exp.superior lobe of lung cancer)^{[citation needed]} or goiter^[4] (thoracic inlet obstruction due to retrosternal goiter or mass).

Apical lung cancers often cause a positive Pemberton's sign and a high index of suspicion should be maintained in patients with symptoms of dyspnea and facial plethora with an extensive smoking history.

References