Extrahepatic obstruction of the portal vein with bleeding from the gallbladder. Report of a case.

A case of extrahepatic obstruction of the common bile duct and the portal vein by a retroperitoneal neurolemmoma is described. In the initial stages portal hypertension with hepatofugal collaterals and bleeding from oesophageal varices existed. Then gradually, hepatopetal anastomoses developed, partly via veins in the wall of the gallbladder. Such venous collaterals tend to reduce the portal hypertension, but may cause bleeding from the gallbladder.