Esophageal and gastric vasculature in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension Evaluation by intravenous CT portography

Abstract Purpose: To compare the findings related to esophageal/gastric varices and congestive gastropathy on intravenous computed tomography (CT) portography (CTP) and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) in children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHO) presented with hematemesis. Method/materials: Fifty pediatric patients (age Results: The sensitivity of CTP for detection of esophageal varices, gastric varices, and gastropathy was 32/33 (97%), 38/40 (95%), and 30/32 (93%), respectively. CTP showed false positivity as well, which was 5/17 (29%), 2/10 (20%), and 13/17 (76%) for esophageal varices, gastric varices, and gastropathy, respectively. On follow-up UGIE, the endoscopic features appeared in 14/19 (74%) of false positive patients. Therefore, false positivity for all the parameters on CTP when compared to the initial UGIE represented the changes in vasculature before they were endoscopically manifest. Conclusions: CTP was likely to pick up changes in esophageal and gastric vasculature earlier than UGIE in children with EHO presented with hematemesis.