title: The puckered panniculus--a sign of previous surgery.
abstract: On abdominal radiographs, the fatty panniculus, if present, has two possible configurations: firstly, a smooth, uniformly convex bow which is the normal appearance; or secondly, a bow with a central indentation (broken bow). This latter is a useful radiographic sign of previous lower abdominal surgery. The central indentation is created by tissue tethering around the laparotomy scar.
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000473:pathology