ROENTGENOGRAPHIC DEMONSTRATION OF UNUSUAL EXTRA-ESOPHAGEAL VARICES

¹ The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York
² From the Department of Radiology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, New York

Although varices in the distal esophagus and cardia of the stomach are the most common roentgen manifestations of portal hypertension on barium studies, on rare occasions varices may be demonstrated at any level of the gastrointestinal tract.

This is illustrated in 5 patients with portal hypertension. All were females and all had varices in unusual locations in and adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract. In 1 the varices involved the antrum and entire small intestine, and in 2 a large collection of varices produced extrinsic pressure on the stomach. Two more cases of colon varices are added to the 9 already present in the world literature.

The case of small intestinal varices (Case 111) is unique; the varices are well demonstrated on barium examination.

In patients with portal hypertension, peculiar polypoid, extrinsic or mural appearing defects on barium studies should stimulate the radiologist to consider varices in his differential diagnosis.

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