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Case Reports
. 2019 Jan 28;7(3):452-455.
doi: 10.1002/ccr3.1996. eCollection 2019 Mar.

A case of fatal cutaneous caput medusae hemorrhage

Nikolaos Melas  1 , Amil Haji Younes  1 , Peter Magnusson  1   2
Affiliations
Case Reports

A case of fatal cutaneous caput medusae hemorrhage

Nikolaos Melas et al. Clin Case Rep. .

Abstract

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis leads to portal venous hypertension, which can result in a caput medusae formation. Life-threatening hemorrhage from a ruptured caput medusae vein is a rare complication. It is crucial to stop the bleeding promptly. A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is considered potentially lifesaving.

Keywords: alcoholic liver cirrhosis; caput medusae; esophageal varices; hemorrhage; hypertensive gastropathy.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declared no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT without contrast (axial) shows protruding paraumbilical veins
Figure 2
Figure 2
CT without contrast (coronal) shows dilated paraumbilical veins
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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