Veins around the esophagus and the stomach: do their calibrations provide a diagnostic clue for portal hypertensive gastropathy?
OBJECTIVE
We analyze whether calibrations of esophagogastric veins can be used as an indirect sign for the presence of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG).


METHODS
The diameters of the left gastric, paraesophageal, and azygos veins were measured on magnetic resonance (MR) portograms of 57 patients with portal hypertension. The mean diameters of the above mentioned veins in patients with and without PHG were compared with Mann-Whitney U test. The diametral associations between the left gastric and azygos veins were assessed with Fisher's exact test in respect to the presence of PHG.


RESULTS
In patients with PHG, the mean diameters of the left gastric, paraesophageal, and azygos veins were not statistically different from those in patients without PHG (P>.05). There was no significant difference in the diametral relationship between the left gastric and azygos veins in patients with and without PHG.


CONCLUSIONS
The calibrations of the veins around the esophagus and the stomach do not provide any clue about the presence of PHG.
Erden
Ayse
A
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Talatpaşa Bulvari, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. ayse.erden@medicine.ankara.edu.tr
Idilman
Ramazan
R
Erden
Ilhan
I
Ozden
Ali
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004947:Esophagus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult