Budd-Chiari Syndrome

Excerpt

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is an uncommon disorder defined as hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction, which is independent of the level or mechanism of obstruction, given the obstruction is not due to pericardial disease, cardiac disease, or sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (veno-occlusive disease). Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome is defined as obstruction due to a predominantly venous process (thrombosis or phlebitis). In contrast, secondary Budd-Chiari syndrome is defined as compression or invasion of the hepatic veins and/or the inferior vena cava by a lesion that originates outside of the vein (for example, a malignancy).