Pericholecystic varices as the predominant manifestation in cryptogenic portal hypertension: A case report

Abstract

Background: Portal hypertension has various manifestations, and varices are a common manifestation. Varices can appear in any vein in the body associated with the portal venous system.

Case presentation: Herein, we report a case of portal hypertension with gallbladder varices as the main manifestation, which was confirmed by abdominal contrast-enhanced CT with three-dimensional reconstruction and color Doppler ultrasonography. The patient had concomitant liver cirrhosis and portal vein thrombosis. Various auxiliary examinations and biochemical indicators of the patient confirmed liver cirrhosis, portal vein thrombosis, and portal hypertension, all of which were mild and did not reach the decompensation stage.

Conclusion: As illustrated by this case, when there is an embolism in certain parts of the portal system, portal hypertension can appear during the compensatory period and transition into severe varices in the thrombotic part during the de-compensatory period.

Keywords: abdominal imaging; gallbladder tumor; gallbladder varices; liver cirrhosis; portal vein hypertension; portal vein thrombosis.