General
rothman's sign
What does rothman's sign mean?
A mock eponymous 'sign' for the yellow-brown nicotine staining of a heavy smoker's fingers, named after a cigarette brand.
"Strong Rothman's sign — clearly a heavy smoker."
Origin
British medical humour; play on cigarette branding and eponymous signs.
Frequently asked questions
What is 'Rothman's sign'?
It's a mock eponymous 'sign' for the yellow-brown nicotine staining on a heavy smoker's fingers, named after a cigarette brand.
Is Rothman's sign a real clinical sign?
No — it's a joke that parodies genuine eponymous medical signs.
Where does the name come from?
It's British medical humour playing on the Rothmans cigarette brand and the tradition of naming signs after people.
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