Types of esophagogastric varices

  Esophagogastric varices are one of the main clinical manifestations of portal hypertension and a common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. In liver cirrhosis cases, 12%-85% have esophageal varices; and when gastrointestinal bleeding occurs in patients with portal hypertension, it is caused by rupture of varices in about 50% (41%-80%), and the rest of cases are caused by gastric mucosal erosion, inflammation or ulceration.  Gastroesophaged varices (GOV) are extensions of esophageal varices and can be divided into 3 types: Type I (GOV1): continuous esophagogastric varices extend along the lesser curvature of the stomach to 2-5 cm below the gastroesophageal junction; Type II (GOV2): gastric varices extend along the greater curvature of the fundus of the stomach beyond the gastroesophageal junction, usually showing longer, more tortuous and pancreatic junction. It usually shows longer, more tortuous and nodular elevation in the cardia.  Type III (GOV3): varices extending both laterally to the lesser curvature and to the fundus; Type IV (IGV): Isolated gastric varices without esophageal varices, also classified as type 2.  IGV type 1: located in gastric fundus, generally tortuous and intertwined, bead-like, verrucous, nodular, etc.  IGV type 2: located in the body of the stomach, the gastric sinus or around the pylorus, this type is very rare.