Biomaterial Database

"Downhill" varices; a cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. 1982

T R Kelly, and D J Mayors, and P S Boutsicaris

Intrathoracic goiter remains an interesting diagnostic and surgical problem. A case of a patient with intrathoracic goiter causing a superior vena cava syndrome which resulted in "downhill" esophageal varices and bleeding is presented. This is the 36th case of reported "downhill" esophageal varices and the ninth to cause massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Intrathoracic goiter is a rare benign cause of "downhill" esophageal varices and bleeding, which can be completely cured by thyroidectomy. It is advisable to consider the addition of a vertical sternotomy in such instances for easier and safer control of the vast collateral venous drainage encountered during removal of the mediastinal component of the tumor.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D003251	Constriction, Pathologic	The condition of an anatomical structure's being constricted beyond normal dimensions.	Stenosis,Stricture,Constriction, Pathological,Pathologic Constriction,Constrictions, Pathologic,Pathologic Constrictions,Pathological Constriction,Stenoses,Strictures
D004932	Esophageal and Gastric Varices	Dilated blood vessels in the ESOPHAGUS or GASTRIC FUNDUS that shunt blood from the portal circulation (PORTAL SYSTEM) to the systemic venous circulation. Often they are observed in individuals with portal hypertension (HYPERTENSION, PORTAL).	Esophageal Varices,Gastric Varices,Esophageal Varix,Gastric Varix,Varices, Esophageal,Varices, Gastric,Varix, Esophageal,Varix, Gastric
D004947	Esophagus	The muscular membranous segment between the PHARYNX and the STOMACH in the UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT.
D006045	Goiter, Substernal	An enlarged THYROID GLAND with at least 50% of the gland situated behind the STERNUM. It is an unusual presentation of an intrathoracic goiter. Substernal goiters frequently cause compression on the TRACHEA leading to deviation, narrowing, and respiratory symptoms.	Goiter, Intrathoracic,Intrathoracic Goiter,Substernal Goiter,Goiters, Intrathoracic,Goiters, Substernal,Intrathoracic Goiters,Substernal Goiters
D006471	Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage	Bleeding in any segment of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT from ESOPHAGUS to RECTUM.	Hematochezia,Hemorrhage, Gastrointestinal,Gastrointestinal Hemorrhages,Hematochezias
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014683	Vena Cava, Superior	The venous trunk which returns blood from the head, neck, upper extremities and chest.	Superior Vena Cava,Superior Vena Cavas,Vena Cavas, Superior