title: Case Report: Gallbladder Varices in a Patient with Portal Vein Thrombosis Secondary to Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
abstract: Gallbladder varices are a rare form of collateralization that develop in patients with portal hypertension. We present here a case of gallbladder varices accurately diagnosed by contrast enhanced CT imaging of the abdomen and confirmed by Color Doppler Sonography. A 76-year-old patient with hepatocellular carcinoma developed portal vein thrombosis due to tumor extension during the course of treatment and was incidentally discovered to have gallbladder varices. While most commonly asymptomatic, gallbladder varices are associated with increased risk of massive bleeding, either spontaneously or during cholecystectomy. As a result, the existence of such varices should be well documented if the patient is to undergo any abdominal surgical procedures. In addition, because of a particular association with portal vein thrombosis, patients with portal hypertension that are found to possess gallbladder varices should be evaluated for portal vein thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gnerre
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, USA.
authors.forename: Yankai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, USA.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jedynak
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gilet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Gallbladder varices; Portal hypertension; hepatocellular carcinoma; liver; portal vein thrombosis