Caput medusae

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Caput medusae Classification and external resources
ICD-10	I86.8 (ILDS I86.820)
ICD-9	456.8

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. 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.

Contents 1 Causes 2 Differential diagnosis 2.1 Inferior vena cava obstruction 2.1.1 How to differentiate 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Causes

It is a sign of severe portal hypertension that has decompressed by portal-systemic shunting through the umbilical veins.^[1]

[edit] Differential diagnosis

[edit] Inferior vena cava obstruction

• Produces abdominal collateral veins develop to bypass the blocked inferior vena cava and permit venous return from the legs.

[edit] 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.

[edit] See also

• Portacaval anastomosis

[edit] References

v • d • e Cardiovascular disease: vascular disease - Circulatory system pathology (I60-I99, 430-459) Cerebrovascular diseases Intracranial hemorrhage: Extra-axial (Epidural, Subdural, Subarachnoid) - Cerebral/Intra-axial (Intraventricular, Intraparenchymal) Stroke/Brain ischemia: Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (Subclavian steal syndrome) - TIA Carotid artery stenosis - Cerebral aneurysm - Binswanger's disease - Moyamoya disease Anterior spinal artery syndrome Arteries, arterioles and capillaries Arterial occlusive disease: Arteriosclerosis (Atherosclerosis, Intermittent claudication, Atheroma) - Renal artery stenosis - Fibromuscular dysplasia - Degos disease Peripheral vascular disease: Raynaud's phenomenon/Raynaud's disease - Erythromelalgia Aneurysm (Aortic/Abdominal aortic) - Dissection (Aortic, Carotid, Vertebral) - Pseudoaneurysm Arteritis (Aortitis) - Buerger's disease Arteriovenous fistula - Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia Nevus (Spider angioma) Veins Venous thrombosis/Phlebitis/Thrombophlebitis: Deep vein thrombosis - May-Thurner syndrome - Portal vein thrombosis - Budd-Chiari syndrome - Renal vein thrombosis - Paget-Schroetter disease - Post-thrombotic syndrome Varicose veins: Varicocele - Gastric varices - Portacaval anastomosis (Hemorrhoid, Esophageal varices, Caput medusae) Superior vena cava syndrome - Venous ulcer Arteries or veins Vasculitis - Thrombosis - Embolism (Pulmonary embolism, Cholesterol embolism) Lymphatic vessels/nodes Lymphadenitis - Lymphedema - Lymphangitis Blood pressure Hypertension: Hypertensive heart disease - Hypertensive nephropathy - Secondary hypertension (Renovascular hypertension) Hypotension: Orthostatic hypotension See also congenital (Q20-Q28, 745-747)