Cervical motion tenderness

In gynecology, cervical motion tenderness or cervical excitation (*chandelier sign), is a sign found on pelvic examination suggestive of pelvic pathology. Classically, it is present in the setting of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, and is of some use to help differentiate PID from appendicitis.^[1] It is also known by the colloquial name "chandelier sign" due to the pain being so excruciating upon bimanual pelvic exam (a part of a woman's physical examination where two hands are used to feel the anatomy of the pelvis) that it is as if the patient reaches up to motion the grabbing of a ceiling-mounted chandelier.^[2]

• The term "Chandelier's Sign" is utilized by various physicians to describe a reflexive reaction to variable stimuli which causes the patient to unexpectedly jump 'as if jumping to grab the proverbial chandelier'. ("Chandelier's Sign - The result of any test or probing after which the patient must be removed from the chandelier"^[3]

References

1. Bongard F, Landers DV, Lewis F (1985). "Differential diagnosis of appendicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease. A prospective analysis". Am. J. Surg. 150 (1): 90–6. doi:10.1016/0002-9610(85)90015-7. PMID 3160252.
2. Gomella LG, Haist SA (2007). "Chapter 13. Bedside Procedures". Clinician's Pocket Reference: The Scut Monkey (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill
3. "Doctors' Slang, Medical Slang and Medical Acronyms, Veterinary Slang, Veterinary Acronyms". messybeast.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.