Frank’s Sign which is a Marker of Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

In today's clinical practice, the importance of a thorough clinical examination of the patient is emphasised in the article. There are 2 real-world instances of diagonal earlobe creases, commonly referred to as Frank's sign. The patients in both cases have ischemic heart disease, however they differ in terms of age and Frank's sign severity. Data from the literature are presented regarding the frequency of Frank's disease in various population groups, as well as its clinical importance and potential underlying pathophysiological causes. In the medical literature, the diagonal ear lobe crease (DELC) is termed as a substitute sign that can detect high-risk individuals with hidden atherosclerosis. However, there hasn't been any research on this subject in the dentistry or medical literature. Most clinical, angiography, and postmortem data are in favour of the idea that DELC is a useful extravascular physical marker that can determine individuals who are at risk of dying from coronary artery atherosclerosis. Some research findings have failed to support the theory linking DELC to certain health conditions. However, recent studies utilizing B mode ultrasonography have indicated a connection between DELC and the development of carotid artery atherosclerosis. Another study has also associated DELC with the existence of calcified carotid artery atheromas visible on panoramic radiographs. Notably, DELC is highly noticeable on head and neck oncology screening examinations. When the patient's vital signs, medical examination, and panoramic radiograph are combined, the results are DELC can aid to assess the patient's risk of atherosclerosis.