Duodenal varices diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound: A case report

Portal hypertension and associated complications cause significant morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients. Variceal development is the most important portal hypertension related complication. Varices most commonly occur around the gastroesophageal junction, but ectopic varices may develop in many gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal localizations. Duodenum is one of the most common localizations for ectopic varices. Diagnosis of duodenal varices is usually made by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, but endoscopic appearance is not diagnostic and usually further investigations are required in order to make accurate diagnosis. Endoscopic ultrasound is the gold standard method for the examination of gastrointestinal submucosal lesions therefore it is also useful in the work up of suspected duodenal varices. Here we present a patient with cryptogenic liver cirrhosis followed in our clinic, whom duodenal lesions suspected of duodenal varices were noticed during upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination and endoscopic ultrasound was used to confirm the presence of duodenal varices.