Abstract
Endoscopic observations of gastric varices were carried out in 214 patients with portal hypertension and in 50 normal controls from June 1981 to December 1987. We defined the "Lc varices" as any vein located in the cardia and/or lesser curvature of the body close to cardia (Lc). We also defined the "Lf varices" as veins over 3 mm in diameter located in the f undus (Lf). Of our 214 patients, 108 (50.5%) had gastric varices, 86 (40.2%) had Lc varices and 55 (25.7%) had Lf varices. Lc varices were seen only in patients with esophageal varices. Lc varices with "Risky signs (redness, white coat, bleeding and/or blood clot)" were frequently observed in patients with esophageal varices accompanied by R-C signs. Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) was carried out for esophageal varices in 30 patients with both esophageal and gastric varices from January 1985 to December 1987. Improvements of Lc varices by EIS were frequently observed in patients who had a dramatic effect on esophageal varices. In contrast, Lf varices bore no definite relation to esophageal varices neither from the point of their frequency, sign related with bleeding nor change by EIS.
