thumbprinting

A radiographic sign of intestinal ischemia associated with hematoma formation and edema in the bowel wall; the thickened or edematous tissues encroach on the air- or contrast-filled lumen radiographically.

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thumb·print·ing (thumґprint″ing) a radiographic sign appearing as smooth indentations on the barium-filled colon, as though made by depression with the thumb; seen in ischemic colitis and various other disorders of the colon.