Shifting dullness is usually present if the volume of ascitic fluid is greater than 1500 ml.

Shifting dullness 3.

The dullness in the left flank is due to coagulated blood, the shifting dullness on the right due to fluid blood.

In medicine, shifting dullness refers to a sign, elicited on physical examination, for ascites (fluid in the peritoneal cavity).

Ballance's sign: Fixed dullness in the left flank, and shifting dullness in the right flank while the patient is lying on his left side.

It is useful for detecting small amounts of ascites - as small as 120 mL; shifting dullness and bulging flanks typically require 500 mL.

Its symptoms are dullness to percussion in the left flank LUQ and shifting dullness to percussion in the right flank seen with splenic rupture/hematoma.