Colonic varices. A complication of pancreatitis with splenic vein thrombosis.

A patient with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding was found to have varices at the splenic flexure at colonoscopy. Angiography revealed complete occlusion of the splenic vein. Although the patient did not have cirrhosis, he did have a history of pancreatitis which presumably was responsible for the splenic vein thrombosis. This case represents a compartmentalized form of portal hypertension which requires careful endoscopic and radiographic studies for proper evaluation. Successful treatment was accomplished by splenectomy.