Gastric varices

Gastric varices are dilated submucosal veins in the lining of the stomach, which can be a life-threatening cause of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

More aggressive treatment, including splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen) or liver transplantation, may be required in some cases.

[1] Secondly, patients with acute pancreatitis may present with gastric varices as a complication of a blood clot in the splenic vein.

If cirrhosis is present, there may be coagulopathy manifested by a prolonged INR; both of these may worsen the bleeding from gastric varices.

[2] In rare cases, gastric varices are caused by splenic vein occlusion as a result of the mass effect of slow-growing pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Cyanoacrylate, a common component in 'super glue' is often mixed 1:1 with lipiodol to prevent polymerization in the endoscopy delivery optics, and to show on radiographic imaging.

Axial CT showing varices of the fundus in liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension
The Sarin classification of gastric varices identifies two types of gastroesophageal varices , where esophageal varices are found concurrently, and two types of isolated gastric varices , found in the absence of esophageal varices .
Antral varices, of Sarin classification IGV-2, an unusual class of gastric varices .