Polycythaemia vera presenting as an acute abdomen.
A patient who presented with severe abdominal pain was found to have an intrahepatic haematoma complicating previously undiagnosed polycythaemia vera (PV). Full recovery followed treatment with bed rest, control of hypertension, daily venesection and 32P. The hazards of surgery in uncontrolled PV are discussed and re-emphasized.
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*