title: An unusual cause of variceal haemorrhage in an elderly patient.
abstract: An elderly patient with nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver and hypothyroidism who presented with life-threatening bleeding from oesophageal varices is discussed. Progress has been uneventful following a semi-emergency portocaval shunt 5 years ago with no evidence of hepatic encephalopathy. This is presumably a tribute to the relatively well-preserved hepatic function in this condition.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical