Clinical features of esophago-gastric varices caused by pancreatic cancer

Abstract

We investigated the endoscopic and clinical features of esophageal-gastric varices in patients with pancreatic cancer. Among 96 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at the time of diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, 26% were found to have varices caused by pancreatic cancer. The number of complications associated with varices of inoperable cancers was higher than that of operable cancers, probably due to the progression of pancreatic cancer. Management of these varices is important because they could reduce the quality of life and sudden bleeding could lead to interruption of chemotherapy.