Thrombus Resolution in Two Patients with Portal Vein Thrombosis without Anticoagulation: Do We Need to Anticoagulate Patients with Portal Vein Thrombosis?

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a thrombosis that develops in the trunk of the portal vein which can extend to its branches. It results from a combination of local and systemic prothrombotic factors. Anticoagulation is generally considered in PVT patients as long as the risk of bleeding is low. Limited data have been published regarding spontaneous resolution of PVT. We describe two cases of asymptomatic PVT who were not given anticoagulation in view of several factors, who, on repeat scans, showed resolution of their thrombus.