An Unusual Case of Isolated Duodenal Varices With Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis

Adbulmalik M Alsabban; Mohammed J Almatrafi; Zaffar M Malik; Inayatulla Y Khiji; Mohammed K Shariff

doi:10.7759/cureus.43783

An Unusual Case of Isolated Duodenal Varices With Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis

Cureus. 2023 Aug 20;15(8):e43783. doi: 10.7759/cureus.43783. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Adbulmalik M Alsabban¹, Mohammed J Almatrafi², Zaffar M Malik³, Inayatulla Y Khiji¹, Mohammed K Shariff¹

Affiliations

¹ Digestive and Liver Center (DLC), King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, SAU.
² Gastroenterology, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, SAU.
³ Digestive and Liver Center (DLC) and Advanced Endoscopy Center, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, SAU.

Abstract

Duodenal varices usually occur due to portal hypertension and are rare causes of gastrointestinal tract bleeding. We report a unique case of a previously fit patient who presented with melena and was found to have isolated duodenal varices (DV) in the third part on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. No esophageal or gastric varices were noticed. The duodenal varices were successfully managed by endoscopic banding. A computerized tomography scan of the abdomen to further investigate the cause confirmed duodenal varices and revealed superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. The liver was normal with patent hepatic and portal veins. No evidence of thrombophilia was found. Apixaban was prescribed for superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and on follow-up. no further bleeding was reported.

Keywords: duodenal varices; endoscopic variceal banding; esophagogastroduodenoscopy (egd); mesenteric vein thrombosis; upper gastrointestinal(ugi) bleeding.

Publication types

Case Reports