Ovarian Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ovarian Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

Bleeding gastric varices--a rare complication of ovarian cancer.

Wallace W, Mulholland K, Epanomeritakis E

Department of Surgery, Craigavon Area Hospital, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland. williamdwallace@hotmail.com

Splenic venous hypertension (or 'left-sided portal hypertension') is a rare underlying cause of gastro-oesophageal varices. Ovarian carcinoma recurring beyond 10 years, following primary treatment with no interval disease, is also a rare occurrence. We report an unusual case of bleeding gastric varices secondary to splenic venous obstruction as a result of metastatic ovarian carcinoma. This occurred 21 years following surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for primary ovarian carcinoma. To our knowledge, until now, there have been no reported cases of splenic venous hypertension due to ovarian carcinoma. This case report illustrates the successful emergency management of this condition by splenectomy, with complete resolution of varices confirmed endoscopically at 6 weeks. It is followed by a brief discussion regarding varices due to splenic venous hypertension.

Published 14 February 2005 in Int J Clin Pract, 59(1): 119-20.
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