Bleeding from duodenal varices is a rare complication of portal hypertension, occurring in only 0.4% of
these patients and is often life-threatening because of the difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. Treatment
options include surgical procedures and endoscopic and endovascular treatments. A 48-year-old female
cirrhotic patient was admitted to our clinic with upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract bleeding. Endoscopic
examination revealed nonbleeding Lm, Cb, RC (+), F3-F3-F2 esophageal and nodular-bleeding-oozing
duodenal varices. Esophageal varices were eradicated with band ligation at two sessions. After one
session of 2% polydocanol sclerotheraphy, no signs of bleeding were determined. Complete eradication
was achieved after five sessions and 1 year apart from the initial treatment duodenal varices were
eradicated. Although duodenal varices are rare, they are frequently fatal. There are limited data regarding
optimal treatment. Successful treatment depends both on patient factors (hepatic synthetic function,
comorbidities, size/location of the varices) and center expertise. Long-term eradication is variable and
may depend on the cause and extensiveness of the ectopic varices.
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