Caput medusae
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| Caput medusae Classification and external resources | |
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| Angiographically, venous malformations are multiple feeding vessels which, by converging on a draining vein, produce a "caput medusae" formation (arrows). Image courtesy of Dr. E. Ralph Heinz, Durham, NC. and Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology | |
| ICD-10 | I86.8 (ILDS I86.820) |
| ICD-9 | 456.8 |
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Caput medusae is the appearance of distended and engorged umbilical veins which are seen radiating from the umbilicus across the abdomen to join systemic veins.
Etymology
The name caput medusae (Latin for "head of Medusa") originates from the apparent similarity to Medusa's hair once Minerva had turned it into snakes.
Causes
It is a sign of severe portal hypertension that has decompressed by portal-systemic shunting through the umbilical veins.[1]
Differential diagnosis
Inferior vena cava obstruction
- Produces abdominal collateral veins develop to bypass the blocked inferior vena cava and permit venous return from the legs.
How to differentiate
Determine the direction of flow in the veins below the umbilicus.
- Caput Medusae - flow is towards the legs
- Inferior vena cava obstruction - flow is towards the head.
See also
References
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Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
