title: Optimal diagnosis of splenic vein thrombosis: brief clinical report.
abstract: The presence of splenic vein thrombosis is sometimes very difficult to diagnose. We present a patient in whom the splenic vein was thought to be patent by ultrasound and conventional celiac angiography. Because of high clinical suspicion and continued bleeding, he underwent a selective intra-arterial digital splenic angiogram. The venous phase clearly showed proximal (hilar) splenic vein occlusion with filling via collaterals in real time. Splenectomy confirmed the diagnosis. We believe that a selective intra-arterial digital splenic angiogram is the radiographic study of choice for suspected splenic vein thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Illig
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Oates
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013162:Splenic Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*