This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Splenic vein thrombosis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Thrombosis of the splenic vein is a rare cause of variceal bleeding. The blood, blocked from its normal route, flows through the short gastric veins, continuing towards the liver. Large gastric varices may develop as the blood traverses the stomach; later, these may rupture and bleed. Oesophageal varices are uncommon because the collateral pattern does not involve the oesophagus.

The principal causes of splenic vein thrombosis include pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocyst, neoplasm and trauma. In two-thirds of patients, there is splenomegaly.

Diagnosis is made by selective splenic arteriography.

In the presence of varices only, the recommended treatment is by splenectomy. Otherwise, no therapy is required.


Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page