CT demonstration of dilated gonadal vein as a portosystemic shunt of mesenteric varices

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to assess CT demonstration of the enl arged gonadal vein as a portosystemic shunt of mesenteric varices. Method: The clinical records and CT images of eight patients with angiograp hically confirmed mesenteric varices were studied retrospectively. We measu red the size of the right gonadal vein of these eight patients and also mea sured the size of the right gonadal vein in 60 patients without mesenteric varices. Results: In all eight patients, CT demonstrated that the mesenteric varices drained into the inferior vena cava through the dilated right gonadal vein (diameter 6-10 mm) in all and that the left gonadal vein was not dilated ( diameter 2-3 mm). In 60 patients without mesenteric varices, the diameter o f the right gonadal vein was 1-5 mm. Conclusion: CT demonstrates the dilated gonadal vein as a portosystemic shu nt of the mesenteric varices. Awareness of a dilated gonadal vein in patien ts with portal hypertension may be helpful to consider the possibility of m esenteric varices.