Frank's sign
Diagonal crease in the earlobe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frank's sign is a diagonal crease in the earlobe extending from the tragus across the lobule to the rear edge of the auricle.[1][2] The sign is named after Sanders T. Frank.[1]
It has been hypothesized that Frank's sign is indicative of cardiovascular disease[3][4] and/or diabetes.[5] Some studies have described Frank's sign as a marker of cardiovascular disease as a nontraditional risk factor[6] but not linked to the severity of the condition.[7] In contrast, other studies have rebutted any association between Frank's sign and coronary artery disease in diabetics.[8] There have also been reported cases of Frank's sign being a predictor of cerebral infarctions.[9] A link between Frank's sign and premature aging and the loss of dermal and vascular fibers has also been hypothesized.[10] Some studies have focused on association between bilateral earlobe crease and coronary artery disease.[11] It is probably prudent to consider Frank's Sign alongside other clinical markers of physiological ageing, rather than utilizing it as a stand-alone sign in the identification of coronary artery disease.[12]
Severity
- Grade 3 – A deep crease across the whole of the earlobe.
- Grade 2b – Creased more than halfway across the earlobe.
- Grade 2a – A superficial crease across the earlobe.
- Grade 1 – A small amount of wrinkling on the earlobe.[13]