ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF OBSTRUCTIVE-JAUNDICE DUE TO PORTAL CAVERNOMA

This report describes 2 cases of calcified cavernous transformation of portal vein of unknown etiology. In both cases the revealing symptom was jaundice due to extrinsic compression of the common bile duct by t he cavernoma. Only 4 other cases have been previously described in the literature. The cause of the jaundice was discovered only during surg ery and confirmed by arteriography. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiogra phy allowed both the diagnosis and the palliative treatment of the str icture of the distal common bile duct. Surgical treatment could not be performed.