Tumorous gastric varices: radiographic findings in 10 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the appearance of tumorous gastric varices on double-contrast barium studies and whether these varices have characteristic radiographic features.


METHODS
Review of radiology files revealed 86 patients with gastric varices diagnosed during double-contrast upper gastrointestinal tract examinations. Of these 86 patients, 12 (14%) had a conglomerate mass of varices, or tumorous varices. Five of the 12 patients had proved gastric varices and five were presumed to have varices on the basis of additional diagnostic test results, clinical follow-up findings, or both. Radiographs from these 10 patients were reviewed retrospectively to determine the size, location, and morphologic features of these lesions.


RESULTS
Tumorous varices had a mean size of 6.8 cm (range, 3-11 cm). They involved the posteromedial border of the gastric fundus in eight patients, the central cardiac region in one, and the anterolateral-inferior fundal border in one. Viewed in profile, the varices appeared as smooth submucosal masses with undulating contours and discrete borders. Viewed en face, the varices manifested as a conglomerate of thickened, tortuous folds that faded peripherally into the adjacent mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
Tumorous gastric varices manifest as remarkably similar findings on double-contrast barium studies, usually appearing en face as a conglomerate of thickened, lobulated folds and in profile as smooth, undulating, submucosal masses on the posteromedial border of the gastric fundus. It is important to be aware of the characteristic features of tumorous gastric varices on double-contrast studies so that they are not mistaken for neoplastic lesions in the stomach.
Carucci
L R
LR
Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Levine
M S
MS
Rubesin
S E
SE
Laufer
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate