Esophageal varices may also occur in the proximal esophagus and can be a source of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Presentation:
(1) hematemesis
Mechanism: venous hypertension
Etiologies:
(1) benign causes of superior vena cava syndrome (intrathoracic goiter, thrombosis of the subclavian vein, mediastinal fibrosis)
(2) malignant causes of superior vena cava syndrome (lung cancer, lymphoma, metastatic cancer)
(3) anomalous esophageal vasculature
(4) portal hypertension with obliterated distal esophageal varices
The varices can be detected on endoscopy but may be subtle. They appear as vessels in the mucosa or submucosa.
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Specialty: Gastroenterology
