---
title: "Signs in Nasal Mass | Dodd Sign, Double Density Sign & Furstenberg Sign"
description: "ENT notes on Dodd Sign, Double Density Sign and Furstenberg Sign."
source: "The ENT Resident"
author: "Dr. Mausumi Das"
canonical_url: "https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/double-density-sign-dodd-sign-furstenberg-sign"
categories: ["Signs, Syndromes, Triads, and Compilation Lists in ENT", "Rhinology"]
video: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65m9bffhpDQ"
image: "https://media.theentresident.com/og-images/double-density-sign-dodd-sign-furstenberg-sign.png"
---

# Signs in Nasal Mass | Dodd Sign, Double Density Sign & Furstenberg Sign

ENT notes on Dodd Sign, Double Density Sign and Furstenberg Sign. Watch the full video lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65m9bffhpDQ

## Dodd Sign, Double Density Sign & Furstenberg Sign

### Dodd Sign

#### 📌 Type of Sign

👉 Radiological Sign seen on **X-ray Nasopharynx (Lateral view)**.

> What is the other name for Dodd sign?

#### 🔍 What is the Sign?

Dodd Sign refers to a **crescent of air between a nasopharyngeal mass and the posterior pharyngeal wall**.

Seen in **Antrochoanal Polyp**.

#### 🧠 Why Does it Occur?

When a nasopharyngeal mass has **not arisen from the posterior wall**, a thin air space remains behind the mass, forming a **crescent shaped radiolucent area**.

⭐ A **positive Dodd Sign** means the nasopharyngeal mass is **separate from the posterior wall**.

An antrochoanal polyp originates from the **antrum of the maxillary sinus**, reaches the choana and **hangs freely** in it. As it does not arise from the posterior wall, a crescent of air remains behind it.

#### 👨‍⚕️ Eponym

Named after Dodd, who described this air crescent appearance behind an antrochoanal polyp on a lateral radiograph.

> What is the clinical importance of Dodd Sign?

---

### Double Density Sign

#### 📌 Type of Sign

👉 Radiological Sign seen on **CT Paranasal Sinuses (Non-contrast)**.

#### 🔍 What is the Sign?

Double Density Sign refers to a **hyperdense area within an opacified sinus**, contrasting with the surrounding inflamed mucosa.

Seen in **Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis**.

> What does the hyperdense area represents in Double Density sign?

#### 🧠 Why Does it Occur?

Normally, sinus secretions and mucosa appear as a **greyish soft tissue density**.

In allergic fungal rhinosinusitis, **manganese and calcium deposits** in the allergic fungal mucin produce **intensely bright hyperdense shadows** within the sinus.

#### 🔍 Why is it Called Double Density Sign?

The sinus shows **two different attenuation levels**:Hypodense soft tissue density & Hyperdense concretions.

> What is the most common sinus involved in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis?

#### ⚖️ Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis vs Invasive Fungal Sinusitis

| Feature | Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis | Invasive Fungal Sinusitis |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bone destruction | Absent | Present |
| Immune status | Immunocompetent patients | Immunocompromised patients |

---

### Furstenberg Sign

#### 📌 Type of Sign

👉 Clinical Sign elicited during **Examination of a nasal mass**.

#### 🔍 What is the Sign?

Furstenberg Sign refers to **expansion of a nasal mass on crying, straining or compression of the jugular vein**.

#### Seen In

* Encephalocele
* Meningocele
* Meningoencephalocele

#### 🧠 Why Does it Occur?

In an encephalocele, **intracranial contents herniate through the skull base** into the nasal cavity, so the nasal mass contains intracranial content.

Crying, straining or Valsalva maneuver

→ Jugular vein compression

→ Increased intracranial venous pressure

→ Raised CSF pressure

→ **Expansion of the encephalocele**

#### 👨‍⚕️ Eponym

Named after Furstenberg, who described this characteristic expansile pulsation of an encephalocele with raised intracranial pressure maneuvers.

> What are the differences between Glioma & Encephalocele?

---

### ⭐ High Yield Rapid Revision Table

| Sign | Type | Finding | Seen In |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dodd Sign | Radiological (X-ray Nasopharynx, lateral view) | Crescent of air between the mass and posterior pharyngeal wall | Antrochoanal polyp |
| Double Density Sign | Radiological (CT PNS) | Hyperdense fungal mucin within an opacified sinus | Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis |
| Furstenberg Sign | Clinical | Expansion of nasal mass on crying, straining or jugular compression | Encephalocele, Meningocele, Meningoencephalocele |

---

### 🧠 Viva Pearls

* Dodd Sign is seen on a lateral X-ray of the nasopharynx.
* Positive Dodd Sign indicates that the nasopharyngeal mass is separate from the posterior wall.
* Antrochoanal polyp arises from the antrum of the maxillary sinus and hangs freely in the choana.
* Double Density Sign is seen on a non-contrast CT of the paranasal sinuses.
* Double Density Sign is due to manganese and calcium deposits in allergic fungal mucin.
* Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis occurs in immunocompetent patients; invasive fungal sinusitis occurs in immunocompromised patients.
* Furstenberg Sign is expansion of a nasal mass on crying, straining or jugular vein compression.
* Furstenberg Sign is seen in encephalocele, meningocele and meningoencephalocele.

---

## About This Note

This free ENT note on Signs in Nasal Mass | Dodd Sign, Double Density Sign & Furstenberg Sign was written by Dr. Mausumi Das and is paired with a corresponding video lecture.

Canonical page of this note: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/double-density-sign-dodd-sign-furstenberg-sign

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## Related Notes by Category

- Signs, Syndromes, Triads, and Compilation Lists in ENT: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/signs-syndromes-triads-lists-in-ent.md
- Rhinology: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/rhinology.md

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