title: Invasive and noninvasive methods to diagnose portal hypertension and esophageal varices.
abstract: Assessing the presence of clinically significant portal hypertension and esophageal varices is clinically important in cirrhosis. The reference standard techniques to assess the presence of portal hypertension and varices are the measurement of the hepatic vein pressure gradient and esophagogastroduodenoscopy, respectively. Some newer methods have shown a good performance, but none has been proven precise enough to replace hepatic vein pressure gradient measurement or esophagogastroduodenoscopy for the diagnosis of portal hypertension or the presence and grade of esophageal varices.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, University of Milan, Via G. B. Grassi 74, Milan 20157, Italy. Electronic address: roberto.defranchis@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Franchis
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, University of Milan, Via G. B. Grassi 74, Milan 20157, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dell'Era
mesh_terms: D053704:Capsule Endoscopy; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D017082:Portal Pressure; D013154:Spleen / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Esophageal varices; Esophagogastroduodenoscopy; Hepatic vein pressure gradient; Portal hypertension; Transient elastography