Atypical esophageal vascular lesions observed in liver cirrhosis.
Chronic liver disease is known to be associated with several vascular alterations including portal hypertension and hepato-pulmonary insufficiency. We report a case of esophageal vascular lesions resembling spider naevi in a patient with nonalcoholic cirrhosis who underwent an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. We observed the presence of multiple white round elevations, 5-6 mm in size, with radiating thin-walled vessels, in the middle and distal esophagus. The histological examination documented the presence of multiple dilated blood vessels in the mucosal layer of the esophagus, with striking thickening of the endothelium wall. There was no evidence of esophagogastric varices, but only of a moderate congestive antral gastropathy. To our knowledge, these endoscopic esophageal findings have not yet been described in cirrhosis.
Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Via Morandi, S. Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy. afardow@gmail.com
Fardowza A
FA
Nur
C
C
Clemente
G
G
Serino
F
F
Salerno
L
L
Spina
M
M
Vecchi
D000368:Aged; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004848:Epithelium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology