Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
Volume 33, Issue 4 , Pages 506-511 , April 2007

Portal Diameter in the Diagnosis of Esophageal Varices in 266 Cirrhotic Patients: Which Role?

  • Enrico Maria Zardi

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Medicine, “Campus Bio-Medico” University, Rome, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Enrico Maria Zardi, MD, Università “Campus Bio-Medico,” Via Emilio Longoni, 83-00155 Rome, Italy.
  • ,
  • Valentina Uwechie

      Affiliations

    • Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, “La Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
  • ,
  • Umberto Vespasiani Gentilucci

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Medicine, “Campus Bio-Medico” University, Rome, Italy
  • ,
  • Aldo Dobrina

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physiology and of Pathology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
  • ,
  • Tommasangelo Petitti

      Affiliations

    • Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, “La Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
  • ,
  • Vittorio Laghi

      Affiliations

    • Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, “La Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
  • ,
  • Antonio Picardi

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Medicine, “Campus Bio-Medico” University, Rome, Italy
  • ,
  • Antonella Afeltra

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Medicine, “Campus Bio-Medico” University, Rome, Italy

Received 30 March 2006 ,Revised 19 September 2006 ,Accepted 5 October 2006.

References 

  1. Alarcon F, Burke CA, Larive B. Esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis: Is screening endoscopy necessary for everyone?. [abstract] Am J Gastroenterol. 1998;93:255
  2. Amarapurkar DN, Parikh SS, Shankaran K, Chopra K, Dhawan P, Kalro RH, et al. Correlation between splenomegaly and oesophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis. [letter] Endoscopy. 1994;26:563
  3. Cales P, Desmorat H, Vinel JP, Caucanas JP, Ravaud A, Gerin P, et al. Incidence of large oesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis: Application to prophylaxis of first bleeding. Gut. 1990;31:1298–1302
  4. Chawla Y, Santa N, Dhiman RK, Dilawari JB. Portal hemodynamics by duplex Doppler sonography in different grades of cirrhosis. Dig Dis Sci. 1998;43:354–357
  5. Christensen E, Fauerholdt L, Schlichting P, Juhl E, Poulsen H, Tygstrup N. Aspects of the natural history of gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis and the effect of prednisone. Gastroenterology. 1981;81:944–952
  6. Cioni G, Tincani E, Cristani A, Ventura P, D’Alimonte P, Sardini C, et al. Does the measurement of portal flow velocity have any value in the identification of patients with cirrhosis at risk of digestive bleeding?. Liver. 1996;16:84–87
  7. D’Amico G, Luca A. Natural history (Clinical-haemodynamic correlations. Prediction of the risk of bleeding). Baillieres Clin Gastroenterol. 1997;11:243–256
  8. De Franchis R. Evolving consensus in portal hypertension (Report of the Baveno IV consensus workshop on methodology of diagnosis and therapy in portal hypertension). J Hepatol. 2005;43:167–176
  9. Galambos JT. Esophageal variceal hemorrhage: Diagnosis and an overview of treatment. Semin Liver Dis. 1982;2:211–226
  10. Garcia-Tsao G, Escorsell A, Zakko M, Patch D, Matloff D, Grace N. Predicting the presence of significant portal hypertension and varices in compensated cirrhotic patients [abstract]. Hepatology. 1997;26:360
  11. Grace ND, Groszmann RJ, Garcia-Tsao G, Burroughs AK, Pagliaro L, Makuch RW, et al. Portal hypertension and variceal bleeding: An AASLD single topic symposium. Hepatology. 1998;28:868–880
  12. Japanese Research Society for Portal Hypertension. The general rules for recording endoscopic findings on esophageal varices. Jpn J Surg. 1980;10:84–87
  13. Korula J, Ralls P. The effects of chronic endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy on portal pressure in cirrhotics. Gastroenterology. 1991;101:800–805
  14. Lavergne J, Molina E, Reddy KR, Jeffers L, Leon R, Nader AK, et al. Ascites predicts the presence of high grade varices by screening gastroscopy [abstract]. Gastrointest Endosc. 1997;45:187
  15. Lo GH, Liang HL, Lai KH, Chang CF, Hwu JH, Chen SM, et al. The impact of endoscopic variceal ligation on the pressure of the portal venous system. J Hepatol. 1996;24:74–80
  16. Pagliaro L, D’Amico G, Pasta L, Politi F, Vizzini G, Traina M, et al. Portal hypertension in cirrhosis: Natural history. In:  Bosch J,  Groszmann RJ editor. Portal Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Treatment. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1994;p. 72–92
  17. Schepis F, Camma C, Niceforo D, Magnano A, Pallio S, Cinquegrani M, et al. Which patients with cirrhosis should undergo endoscopic screening for esophageal varices detection?. Hepatology. 2001;33:333–338
  18. Siringo S, Bolondi L, Gaiani S, Sofia S, Zironi G, Rigamonti A, et al. Timing of the first variceal hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients: Prospective evaluation of Doppler flowmetry, endoscopy and clinical parameters. Hepatology. 1994;20:66–73
  19. Spina GP, Arcidiacono R, Bosch J, Pagliaro L, Burroughs AK, Santambrogio R, et al. Gastric endoscopic features in portal hypertension: Final report of a consensus conference. J Hepatol. 1994;21:461–467
  20. Staritz M, Meyer zum Buschenfelde KH. The endoscopic measurement of intravascular pressure and flow in oesophageal varices. J Hepatol. 1988;7:126–131
  21. Zaman A, Hapke R, Flora K, Rosen HR, Benner K. Factors predicting the presence of esophageal or gastric varices in patients with advanced liver disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999;94:3292–3296
  22. Zeijen RNM, Caenepeel P, Stockbrugger RW, Arends JW, Oei TK. Prediction of esophageal varices in liver disease: Preliminary results [abstract]. Hepatology. 1997;26:360
  23. Zoli M, Iervese T, Merkel C, Bianchi G, Magalotti D, Marchesini G, et al. Prognostic significance of portal hemodynamics in patients with compensated cirrhosis. J Hepatol. 1993;17:56–61

PII: S0301-5629(06)01868-0

doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2006.10.002

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
Volume 33, Issue 4 , Pages 506-511 , April 2007