Demetrius Chilaiditi
Demetrius Chilaiditi (1883-1975) was an Austrian born, Ottoman Radiologist of Greek descent.
Chilaiditi is best known for his eponymous description of the Chilaiditi sign, the radiographic phenomenon of interposition of the colon between the liver and the diaphragm. Chilaiditi studied medicine at the University of Vienna and trained in radiology under the guidance of Guido Holzknecht (1872–1931), one of the early pioneers of diagnostic imaging.
In 1910, Chilaiditi relocated to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), where he published his seminal observations on transient hepatodiaphragmatic interposition in three asymptomatic adults. However, his contributions extended beyond this single observation. He published on gastrointestinal radiography, radiotherapy of gynaecological conditions, and X-ray treatment for dermatologic disorders such as hypertrichosis.
Chilaiditi was among the founding members of the Turkish Radiological Society (Türk Radyoloji Derneği) in 1924 and served as a consulting radiologist to several international hospitals in Istanbul. Despite his clinical and academic contributions, details about his later life remain limited. Much of his biographical record remains uncorroborated by primary source documentation and the paucity of verified historical records has left many aspects of his life and professional contributions subject to uncertainty.
Biographical Timeline
- Born on April 11, 1883 Vienna, Austria
- 1908 – Graduated in Medicine from the University of Vienna.
- 1908–1910 – Radiology training in Vienna. Studied under Professor Guido Holzknecht (1872–1931), a pioneer in radiology. Worked at the III Medical University Clinic and Zentral-Röntgeninstitut.
- 1910 – Moved to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). Opened a private radiology laboratory, reportedly the second in the city. Published eponymous description of hepatodiaphragmatic interposition (Chilaiditi sign)
- 1910–1914 – Published on gastrointestinal imaging, radiotherapy, and dermatologic applications of X-rays
- 1910s–1920s – Practiced as a radiologist in multiple foreign hospitals in Istanbul. Worked at English, French, Greek, and Italian hospitals.
- 1924 – Listed as one of the founding members of the Turkish Radiological Society (Türk Radyoloji Derneği).
- Died on January 2, 1975 in Istanbul
Medical Eponyms
Chilaiditi sign (1910; n=3)
Chilaiditi sign refers to a radiological finding where a loop of colon (or, less commonly, small bowel) is interposed between the liver and right hemidiaphragm, simulating free air on plain radiography. Hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the intestine (HDI) is typically asymptomatic and discovered incidentally.
1910 – Chilaiditi reported the anatomo-radiographic findings of 3 asymptomatic cases (2 male, one female) of subdiaphragmatic air on plain XR as a result of temporary hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the colon.
Die Kolonschlingen hatten sich in den rechten subphrenischen Raum vorgeschoben und lagen zwischen Leber und Zwerchfell.
Chilaiditi 1910
“The loops of the colon had advanced into the right subphrenic space and were positioned between the liver and the diaphragm.”
Middle: Comparative anatomical positioning of colon, liver, and stomach.
Right: Lateral shift of colonic loops with visible stomach (Magen).
Chilaiditi illustrated the anatomical relationships in three patients with detailed sketches and radiographic correlation establishing the radiological identity of the Chilaiditi sign.
Major Publications
- Chilaiditi D. Considérations nouvelles sur le ralentissement de évacuation de certains estomacs, Bulletins et mémoires de la Société de radiologie médicale de Paris, Nov. 1910.
- Chilaiditi D. Procédé pour obtenir sans contraction de la paroi abdominale une ascension considérable de l’estomac. Bulletins et mémoires de la Société de radiologie médicale de Paris, Décembre 1910.
- Chilaiditi D. Zur Frage der Hepatoptose und Ptose im Allgemeinen im Anschluss an Drei Fälle von Temporärer, Partieller Leberverlagerung. Fortschritte auf dem Gebiete der Röntgenstrahlen. 1910; 16: 173-208
- Chilaiditi D. Respiratory Movements in Radiological Examination of the Stomach. British Medical Journal 1911
- Chilaïditi D. Dauernde Epilation durch Röntgenstrahlen ohne Schädigung der Haut. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1913; 39(47): 2304-2306
- Chilaiditi D. Zur Technik der gynäkologischen Réntgentherapie. Der Kompressor, ein Instrument für systematische Ausnützung der Verschieblichkeit der Bauchhaut. Münchener medizinische Wochenschrift. 1914; 61(32): 1776-1777
- Chilaiditi D. Weitere Beiträge zur Behandlung der Hypertrichose mit Röntgenstrahlen. Münchener medizinische Wochenschrift. 1914; 61(42): 2236-2237
- Chilaiditi D. Technique de la radiothérapie gynécologique. Dixieme Congres de la Societe allemande de Radiologie. 1914
References
Biography
- Ulman YI, Livadas G, Yildirim N. The pioneering steps of radiology in Turkey (1896-1923). Eur J Radiol. 2005 Sep;55(3):306-10.
- Maizlin ZV, Cooperberg PL, Clement JJ, Vos PM, Coblentz CL. People behind exclusive eponyms of radiologic signs (part I). Can Assoc Radiol J. 2009 Oct;60(4):201-12
Eponymous Terms
- Saber AA, Boros MJ. Chilaiditi’s syndrome: what should every surgeon know? Am Surg. 2005 Mar;71(3):261-3
- Farkas R, Moalem J, Hammond J. Chilaiditi’s sign in a blunt trauma patient: a case report and review of the literature. J Trauma. 2008 Dec;65(6):1540-2.
- Kao CT, Dunkley M, Hodgson R. Surgical management of large bowel obstruction and significant hepatic displacement caused by Chilaiditi syndrome. BMJ Case Rep. 2023 Nov 30;16(11):e255047.
- Mulvany CM, Nguyen A, Bella S. Chilaiditi Syndrome Caused by Fitz-Hugh-Curtis: Ultrasound and Computed Tomography Findings. J Emerg Med. 2025 Oct;77:34-37.
Eponym
the person behind the name
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