Bilateral Earlobe Creases and Subsequent Malignant Cerebral Infarction: A Patient With Diffuse Endothelial Dysfunction

Cureus. 2020 Jul 21;12(7):e9329. doi: 10.7759/cureus.9329.

Abstract

This case highlights the case of a woman in her 50´s and the association of Frank's sign with vascular disease. Earlobe crease or Frank's sign is a diagonal crease in the earlobe that extends diagonally from the tragus to the edge of the auricle with an angle of approximately 45°. Its presence increases with advancing age and is thought to be predictive of vascular disease. The recognition of this sign is considered a key factor in the identification of patients with high vascular risk and endothelial dysfunction. The association with a reperfusion syndrome, like our patient, is not known.

Keywords: brain swelling; cardiovascular diseases; cerebrovascular diseases; diagonal earlobe crease; frank’s sign.

Publication types

  • Case Reports