Figure 1.

Anatomy of the portal circulation: Gastric varices due to splenic vein thrombosis tend to arise from the short gastric veins running from the hilum of the spleen to the greater curvature aspect of the stomach rather than through splenorenal (asterisk) or gastrorenal shunts common with portal hypertensive fundal varices. IVC, inferior vena cava; PV, portal vein; LGV,left gastric vein; SMV, superior mesenteric vein; SV, splenic vein; SGV, short gastric vein; LRV, left renal vein. (Courtesy of Dr. Saher Sabri.)