ladder pattern

Imaging A pattern seen in plain films of the abdomen in small bowel obstruction, especially in children, in which multiple dilated loops of small bowel demonstrate a classic step ladder pattern—from 1 o’clock to 5 o’clock. On an upright film, the pattern is often accompanied by multiple air fluid levels (10 o’clock) and, post-operatively, by free air under the diaphragm
Lab medicine Light chain ladder A phenomenon that may be seen on routine high-resolution agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and immunofixation of urine specimens. Light chain ladders are electrophoretically more homogeneous, are usually kappa, less commonly lambda, light chains, and widely distributed over the gammaglobulin zone
Aetiology Light chain ladders are seen in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases—e.g., lymphoma, myeloma, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, some infections, and inflammatory conditions
Tropical medicine A characteristic linear serrated wheal produced by the adherent tentacles of the box jellyfish—Chironex fleckeri, Chiropsolmus quadrigatus, coelenterates native to the Pacific basin

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ladder pattern

Lab medicine Light chain ladder A phenomenon that may be seen on routine high-resolution agarose gel electrophoresis–AGE and immunofixation of urine specimens; LCLs are electrophoretically more homogeneous, are usually kappa–κ light chains–less commonly lambda–λ light chains, and widely distributed over the γ-globulin zone; LCLs appear in Pts with lymphoproliferative diseases–eg, lymphoma, myeloma, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, some infections, and inflammatory conditions Pediatrics A sign on the abdomen in children with an obstructed lower GI tract, seen as parallel loops of distended small intestine, causing a 'stepped' pattern.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.