Bird Beak Sign (redirected from Bird of Prey Sign)

Bird Beak Sign

A descriptor for GI tract findings by barium studies which have been fancifully likened to a bird’s beak
Colon Ace of spades appearance, bird of prey sign A sharply defined voluptuously-curved, cut-off of the enema column in a volvulus of the sigmoid colon; if the barium passes proximally, two kissing ‘bird beaks’ are seen, known as an Omega loop
Ileocaecal valve The contour of a normal ileocaecal valve seen by radiocontrast studies of the lower GI tract
Oesophagus Sigmoid oesophagus The over-distended esophagus of achalasia tapers into a pointed beak, which corresponds to the non-relaxing lower oesophageal sphincter, seen by an upper GI radiocontrast study—barium ‘swallow’

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bird beak sign

Imaging A descriptor for GI tract findings by barium studies Colon Ace of spades appearance A sharply defined voluptuously-curved, cut-off of the enema column in a volvulus of the sigmoid colon; if the barium passes proximally, 2 kissing 'bird beaks' are seen, known as an Omega loop Esophagus Sigmoid esophagus The over-distended esophagus of achalasia tapers into a pointed beak, which corresponds to the non-relaxing lower esophageal sphincter, seen by an upper GI radiocontrast study–barium 'swallow'