PORTAL-VEIN THROMBOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH RECTAL BLEEDING - NONINVASIVE DIAGNOSIS AND FOLLOW-UP BY ULTRASOUND

A 65 year old woman presented with a sudden onset of abdominal pain an d bright rectal bleeding. Shortly after admission a diagnosis of parti al portal vein thrombosis was made by ultrasonography. This thrombosis appeared to be the first sign of a previously unsuspected hypercoagul able state due to polycythaemia rubra vera. Ultrasound proved useful i n confirming complete resolution of the portal system thrombosis in re sponse to conservative therapy.