A CASE OF DUODENAL VARICES

A case of duodenal varices successfully treated by a systemic obliteration of the varices, which has been employed at the department, is reported with a review of the Japanese literature. A 52-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of tarry stool. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed an enlarged and tortuous varices with redness in the second portion of the duodenum. Transileocolic vein portgraphy revealed collateral veins composed of the supperior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins. From these findings a diagnosis of duodenal varices was made, and a systemic obliteration of varices which composed of an embolization by coils and endoscopic embolization was performed. After that, endoscopical examination revealed that morphology of the varices was improved but the redness persisted. Endoscopic obliteration was carried out two times. No recurrence of the varices has been observed during the follow up period of two years after the treatment. Duodenal varix is rare and the etiology mainly attributable to portal hypertension. It can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. A systemic obliteration of the collateral veins, which has been employed for esophageal varices at the department, was useful.