'Downhill' esophageal varices. A rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding

The submucosal venous network of the esophagus is part of the collateral system that develops following superior vena caval obstruction from any cause. The direction of flow in these thin-walled, valveless veins is "downhill," towards the azygous vein or to the inferior vena cava. Bleeding...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inArchives of surgery (Chicago. 1960) Vol. 113; no. 12; p. 1463
Main Authors Johnson, L S, Kinnear, D G, Brown, R A, Mulder, D S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.12.1978
Subjects
Aged
Esophageal and Gastric Varices - diagnostic imaging
Esophageal and Gastric Varices - etiology
Female
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology
Humans
Radiography
Thyroid Neoplasms - complications
Thyroid Neoplasms - surgery
Thyroidectomy
Vascular Diseases - complications
Vascular Diseases - etiology
Vena Cava, Superior
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Summary:The submucosal venous network of the esophagus is part of the collateral system that develops following superior vena caval obstruction from any cause. The direction of flow in these thin-walled, valveless veins is "downhill," towards the azygous vein or to the inferior vena cava. Bleeding from upper esophageal varices is extremely rare. This case report describes a patient with massive bleeding from upper esophageal varices secondary to superior vena caval obstruction by a malignant thyroid tumor. Total thyroidectomy relieved the obstruction, with cessation of hemorrhage and subsequent disappearance of the varices.
ISSN:0004-0010
DOI:10.1001/archsurg.1978.01370240085016